Seoul, May 28 (IANS) South Korea’s central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged on Thursday amid lingering uncertainty in the Middle East, but it raised the possibility of future tightening as inflationary pressures and concerns over currency weakness intensified.In a widely-anticipated decision, the Monetary Policy Board of the Bank of Korea (BOK) held the key rate steady at 2.5 percent in its rate-setting meeting in Seoul. It is the first monetary policy meeting chaired by BOK Gov. …
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Seoul, May 27 (IANS) South Korea’s overseas financial assets rose to a fresh record high in the first quarter, driven by increased direct investments in the United States, central bank data showed on Wednesday.The country’s external financial assets stood at US$2.88 trillion as of end-March, up $15 billion from three months earlier, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea (BOK), reports Yonhap news agency.It marks the largest amount ever, though the pace of its growth slowed from th…
Seoul, May 22 (IANS) Consumer sentiment rose at the fastest pace in about a year in May, driven by robust semiconductor exports and the stock market rally, the central bank said on Friday.The composite consumer sentiment index (CCSI) stood at 106.1 this month, up 6.9 points from April and surpassing the 100-point mark for the first time in two months, according to a survey by the Bank of Korea (BOK), reports Yonhap news agency.The reading had fallen for two straight months in March and April.The…
Seoul, May 19 (IANS) The Bank of Korea (BOK) has estimated that a general strike at Samsung Electronics Co. could cut 0.5 percentage point off South Korea’s economic growth this year, officials said on Tuesday.The central bank recently compiled a closed-door report on the matter and submitted it to the finance ministry, according to the officials, reports Yonhap news agency.The report estimated losses from the potential strike at around 30 trillion won (US$20 billion), noting it could take up to…
Seoul, May 14 (IANS) South Korea’s top economic and financial policymakers on Thursday called for the prompt settlement of a labor dispute at Samsung Electronics, warning that a possible strike could threaten the country’s economy amid a semiconductor supercycle.Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol and other heads of financial authorities made the joint remarks during a meeting on the potential fallout from a planned walkout by Samsung Electronics workers, according to the Ministry of Finance and Econ…
Seoul, April 23 (IANS) Despite the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, the South Korean economy posted its fastest quarterly growth in 5 and a half years in the first quarter, supported by solid exports amid a semiconductor upcycle and resilient domestic demand, central bank data showed on Thursday.The country’s real gross domestic product (GDP) — a key measure of economic growth — rose 1.7 per cent in the January-March period from three months earlier, according to the preliminary data from th…
Seoul, April 20 (IANS) Outgoing Bank of Korea (BOK) Governor Rhee Chang-yong said on Monday that achieving economic stability and growth through monetary and fiscal policy alone has become increasingly difficult, calling for a broader role for the central bank in addressing long-term structural challenges.Rhee made the remarks during his farewell ceremony in Seoul, as he completed his four-year term. His successor, Governor-designate Shin Hyun-song, is set to begin his term Tuesday as his nomina…
Seoul, April 20 (IANS) Seoul stocks were trading sharply higher late on Monday morning, despite concerns over renewed tensions between the United States and Iran in the Middle East.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 81.79 points, or 1.32 percent, to 6,273.71 as of 11:20 am (local time), reports Yonhap news agency.U.S. President Donald Trump has said the U.S. has seized an Iranian-flagged commercial vessel in the Gulf, as part of its naval blockade. Iran called such ac…
Seoul, April 15 (IANS) The Korean won has remained relatively weak in recent months, but the country has sufficient dollar liquidity to respond to external shocks, Shin Hyun-song, nominee for the head of South Korea’s central bank, said on Wednesday.Shin made the remarks during a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul, as he has been tapped to replace outgoing Bank of Korea (BOK) Gov. Rhee Chang-yong, reports Yonhap news agency.”It is not appropriate to comment on the specific le…
Seoul, April 15 (IANS) South Korea’s money supply rose for the fourth consecutive month in February, as increases in savings deposits offset a decline in certificates of deposit (CDs), central bank data showed on Wednesday.The country’s M2, a key gauge of the money supply, stood at an average of 4,114 trillion won ($2.79 trillion) in February, up 600 billion won from a month earlier, according to the preliminary data from the Bank of Korea (BOK), reports Yonhap News Agency.The figure rebounded i…