Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Dollar Holds Steady Ahead of U.S. CPI as Oil Surge, Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Goldman Sees Foreign Investors Driving India Stock Market Recovery 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
Oil Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates and Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
South Korea’s Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol pledged on Wednesday to take action to stabilise the weakening won, but stopped short of outlining concrete policy measures. His comments come amid growing concern over the currency’s persistent softness and heightened volatility in global financial markets.
During a rare press conference dedicated to the currency market, Koo emphasised that officials were closely monitoring “speculative trading and herd-like behaviour” that may be intensifying downward pressure on the won. He added that the government would consider all available options to support stability but acknowledged structural demand for U.S. dollars continues to weigh on the domestic market.
Despite recent high-level discussions with the National Pension Service (NPS), major exporters, and domestic brokerages, Koo did not present immediate steps to counter rising dollar demand. This disappointed some market participants who had expected more concrete interventions. One local currency trader remarked that market attention had been “extremely high,” but the briefing “was bland.”
Following the press conference, the won retreated from earlier gains, trading 0.3% stronger at 1,465.5 per dollar as of 0420 GMT after reaching a session high of 1,457.0. Earlier this week, it touched its weakest level since early April at 1,479.4 per dollar, deepening concerns about currency stability.
Koo clarified that a new consultative body formed with the NPS is intended to develop long-term strategies balancing investment returns and market stability, rather than mobilising the pension fund for short-term currency support. He also stated that incentives for exporters to repatriate overseas earnings and tax benefits aimed at boosting domestic stock investments are not currently under consideration.
The won has fallen more than 7% in the second half of 2025, pressured by uncertainties surrounding a U.S. trade-related investment package and increased overseas investment by retail investors and the NPS. Meanwhile, the Bank of Korea is widely expected to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged on Thursday as policymakers juggle currency risks and an overheated housing market.
