|

BOK's Lee: rapid economic slowdown unlikely, time not right for further stimulus

Bank of Korea Governor Lee is out on the wires stating that while Korea's potential growth rate continues to fall, a rapid economic slowdown is unlikely this year. 

The central bank kept interest rates unchanged at 1.75 percent earlier today.

Key quotes

  • 2019 exports will still show growth in terms if volume. 
  • Time not right to consider further monetary easing. 
  • A downturn in memory chips industry will negatively affect the economy
  • Experts say semiconduction demand to improve in the second half. 
  • 2019 CPI inflation seen at 1.4 percent vs the previous estimate of 1.7 percent
  • 2019 GDP growth is seen at 2.6 percent vs the initial estimate of 2.7 percent. 

Author

Omkar Godbole

Omkar Godbole

FXStreet Contributor

Omkar Godbole, editor and analyst, joined FXStreet after four years as a research analyst at several Indian brokerage companies.

More from Omkar Godbole
Share:

Editor's Picks

GBP/USD dips below 1.3350 with bullish momentum losing steam

The British Pound ticks lower against the US Dollar Monday, attempting to close a seven-day rally, as tensions rise again in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the critical points in the peace process between Washington and Tehran. The GBP/USD pair trades near 1.3340 at the time of writing, down from 1.3387 highs last week, although it maintains a near-term bullish trend intact.

EUR/USD extends the range play above 1.1400 as Hormuz risks support USD

The EUR/USD pair extends its sideways consolidative price move during the Asian session on Tuesday, though it manages to hold comfortably above the 1.1400 mark. Moreover, spot prices remain well within striking distance of a nearly two-week high, touched last Thursday.

Gold remains depressed below $4,200 as receding Fed hike bets limit losses

Gold trades with a negative bias below $4,200 for the second straight day, though it remains within striking distance of a two-week high set the previous day amid mixed cues. Tensions over the Strait of Hormuz remain elevated, lending some support to the safe-haven US Dollar and weighing on the bullion. However, receding bets on further Fed rate hikes keep USD bulls on the back foot and help limit downside for the non-yielding yellow metal.

Bitcoin treasury model tested as Strategy sells 3,588 BTC

Bitcoin briefly dropped below $63,000 on Monday after Strategy announced it sold 3,588 BTC from its corporate treasury, raising approximately $216 million. The proceeds were used to fund dividend payments under its Digital Credit Capital Framework, according to a Form 8-K filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

The US Dollar just beat the Swiss Franc at its own safe-haven game

As the king among safe havens, the Swiss Franc is supposed to benefit from geopolitical shocks such as the Iran war. This time, it didn’t. The Swissie is nearly 6% below January’s peak against the USD after a sharp decline that came along with the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Kevin Warsh offers no policy clues: Why markets still got their answer

Financial markets came to Sintra looking for clues about the Federal Reserve's (Fed) next move. They largely left with confirmation that Fed Chair Kevin Warsh intends to make those clues much harder to find.