Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed 0.80 percent lower at 1,924.96 on Thursday due to a grim forecast for global economic recovery amid the pandemic.
On top of that, there were also concerns over renewed trade tensions between the United States and China.
Trading was at 744 million shares worth 9.3 trillion won, with losers outnumbering gainers 638 to 229.
The bleak outlook for a slow economic recovery came from U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, which Kiwoom Securities analyst criticized as "not helpful" as it may result in more foreign sell-offs.
While foreigners sold 552 billion won and institutions dumped238 billion won worth of local stocks, individuals acquired 785 billion won worth on the Seoul bourse.
Shares of Samsung Electronics went down 1.13 percent to 48,000 won as chipmaker SK Hynix plunged 3.59 percent to 80,600 won.
Automaker Hyundai Motor Group tumbled by 0.86 percent to 2,300 won, as auto parts manufacturer Hyundai Mobis dipped 0.59 percent to 169,500 won.
Meanwhile, LG Chem sank 2.13 percent to 344,500 won, while steelmaker POSCO plummeted 2.89 percent to 168,000 won.
Among the winners were pharmaceutical giant Celltrion, which surged 0.93 percent to 217,000 won, and mobile messenger app operator Kakao, which rose 3.93 percent to 225,000 won.
