Japan Targets 1%+ Real Economic Growth With ¥370 Trillion Investment Plan 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
China Factory PMI Seen Returning to Growth in June as AI Export Demand Supports Economy 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
US Stock Futures Rise as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Boost Market Sentiment 
Gold Price Ends Lower for Fourth Week Despite Rebound as Fed Rate Hike Bets Strengthen 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
Asian Stocks Slip as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Lift Oil, Dollar Strength Persists 
Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
World Bank Approves $1.1 Billion Emergency Funding for Bangladesh Amid Food and Energy Price Pressures 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Asian Currencies Stay Range-Bound as Investors Eye China Data, RBNZ Outlook and U.S.-Iran Ceasefire 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
South Korea’s Export Growth Drops as Global Demand Slows
South Korea’s export growth slowed sharply in October, rising just 4.6% year-over-year to $57.52 billion, marking the smallest increase in seven months. This downturn reflects weakened global demand and rising U.S. election uncertainty, stalling the nation’s economic recovery.
Key Export Performance Indicators
Exports grew for the 13th consecutive month, although this October increase was smaller than September’s 7.5% growth. According to data from South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, exports averaged a 0.2% drop per working day—the first decline since September 2023. Economists had predicted a stronger 6.9% gain, underscoring an unexpected slowdown.
Sector and Regional Export Trends
While semiconductor exports rose 40.3% to $12.5 billion, they fell short of September’s record high of $13.6 billion. Automotive exports increased 5.5%, but petroleum products plunged 34.9%, pressured by lower global oil prices. Regional trade data revealed a mixed picture: exports to the United States grew modestly by 3.4%, while shipments to China surged 10.9% to a 25-month high of $12.2 billion.
Economic Implications
Despite modest growth in consumer spending, South Korea’s economy remains at risk due to sluggish export performance. Trade Minister Ahn Duk-Geun indicated that the government is assessing the potential impacts of the upcoming U.S. election on South Korea’s economy.
Trade Balance
Imports rose 1.7% in October, yielding a trade surplus of $3.17 billion, down from $6.66 billion in September.
