KRW: BOK to maintain rates amid low inflation – DBS Bank

FXStreet Insights Team FXStreet

DBS Bank's Group Research projects that the Bank of Korea (BOK) will keep its base rate unchanged at 2.50% throughout 2026. The report indicates that January inflation is expected to ease, reflecting subdued demand-side pressures and stable supply-side conditions. The BOK has signaled an end to its rate-cut cycle, aligning with the current economic outlook.

BOK monetary policy outlook

"The Bank of Korea has clearly signaled the end of its rate-cut cycle. Low inflation suggests there is no urgency for the BOK to shift from rate cuts to rate hikes."

"We therefore maintain our forecast that the BOK will keep the base rate unchanged at 2.50% throughout this year."

(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor.)

Author

FXStreet Insights Team

FXStreet

The FXStreet Insights Team is a group of journalists that handpicks selected market observations published by renowned experts. The content includes notes by commercial as well as additional insights by internal and external analysts.

EUR/USD flirts with weekly lows near 1.1770

EUR/USD now comes under further selling pressure, breaking below the 1.1800 support to challenge the area of weekly throughs near 1.1770 on Thursday. The pair’s decline comes in response to marked gains in the US Dollar amid steady geopolitical tensions. Ealier in the day, the ECB’s Lagarde delivered cautious remarks, although the currency remained apathetic.

GBP/USD threatens the 200-day SMA near 1.3440

GBP/USD rapidly leaves behind Wednesday’s strong advance, coming under heavy pressure and retesting the 1.3440 zone, where the critical 200-day SMA is located. Cable’s deep pullback follows the strong gains in the Greenback, while investors continue to pencil in a potential BoE rate cut in March.

Gold trims gains, slips back to around $5,170

Gold is now facing some downside pressure, hovering around the $5,170 region on Thursday. The yellow metal surrenders part of its earlier gains on the back of the resurgence of the buying interest in the Greenback. In the meantime, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to limit the downside potential for now.