Whether foreign bond investors will become benefactors or turn into merciless vigilantes will depend on our government and market performance.
The Kospi surged 64.72 points, or 2.41 percent, to close at 2,754.86, the highest in nearly two years since April 5, 2022, while the won also strengthened against the won.
Strawberries have become 154.1 percent pricier than they were just last month. Korea's producer price index (PPI), a major indicator of consumer inflation, rose 0.1 percent on month in December, according to data from the Bank of Korea on Tuesday.
Producer prices moved up 0.1 percent on-month in December due to the higher cost of agricultural products and gas, possibly indicating a coming price inflation for consumers.
The won depreciated to its lowest point against the dollar in more than two months as bets on the Fed's early rate cuts softened.
The government has increased subsidies for green onions and plans to lower tariffs to expand vegetable imports.
Consumer prices rose in all 17 major cities and provinces in Korea in the third quarter, and Seoul reported the sharpest growth of 3.7 percent among them on rising utility bills and costs of eating out, Statistics Korea data showed Monday.
The import price index rose 0.5 percent last month from a month earlier, following a 3 percent increase the previous month, according to the preliminary data from the Bank of Korea.
A government-wide special scheme has been launched to manage prices of key food and other items to bring inflation under control, the Finance Ministry said Thursday.
Most Korean companies expect the country’s economy to underperform in October, with the Business Survey Index at 90.6, signaling a pessimistic outlook for the 19th consecutive month.
Korea JoongAng Daily Sitemap
