Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
Dollar Slips as Weak U.S. Manufacturing Data Increases Pressure for Fed Rate Cuts 
Oil Prices Rise as Geopolitical Tensions and Supply Risks Intensify 
South Korea Posts Stronger-Than-Expected 1.3% Economic Growth in Q3 
U.S. Stocks Slip as Investors Await Fed Rate Decision and Monitor Market Shifts 
U.S. Cyber Monday Online Sales Surge Past $9.1 Billion as Holiday Shopping Momentum Builds 
Tech Stocks Lift S&P 500 as Fed Rate-Cut Expectations Rise 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Trump Administration Plans Major Rollback of Biden-Era Fuel Economy Standards 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
Oil Prices Slip as Russia-Ukraine Peace Hopes Fade and Oversupply Fears Grow 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
South Korea Inflation Edges Up in November as Food and Service Costs Climb 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
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.
