Nikkei Retreats After Brief 60,000 Break as Profit-Taking and Geopolitical Risks Weigh 
SK Hynix to Invest $13 Billion in AI Chip Packaging Facility 
Gold Prices Edge Higher on Weak Dollar but Face Weekly Loss Amid Oil-Driven Inflation Fears 
European Car Sales Surge in March as EV and Hybrid Demand Accelerates 
Iran-Pakistan Diplomacy and Strait of Hormuz Tensions Push Oil Prices Above $100 
Bank of Japan Signals Potential Rate Hike as Inflation Risks Rise Amid Energy Shock 
Microsoft Commits $18 Billion to Expand AI and Cloud Infrastructure in Australia 
Brazil Blocks Prediction Market Platforms, Tightens Derivatives Trading Rules 
Hyundai Plans 20 New Models in China to Boost EV Strategy and Market Share 
Tesla Earnings Beat Expectations as EV Growth Holds Amid Robotics and AI Shift 
Foreign Investors Drive Surge in Japanese Stocks Amid AI Rally and Improved Risk Sentiment 
SpaceX Eyes $60B Cursor Deal to Boost AI Power Ahead of IPO 
Oil Prices Steady as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Tensions Despite Strait of Hormuz Disruptions 
Florida Investigates OpenAI and ChatGPT Over Alleged Role in FSU Shooting 
US and EU Strengthen Critical Minerals Partnership to Reduce China Dependence 
Oil Prices Surge Amid Escalating U.S.-Iran Conflict and Strait of Hormuz Tensions 
Gold Prices Slip as Strong Dollar and Middle East Tensions Weigh on Market 
Top global investment banks (IB) forecast the South Korean economy to grow 3.4 percent this year, up by 0.1 percentage point from their previous estimate.
Credit Suisse upgraded its estimate by 0.7 percentage point to 3.6 percent and HSBC by 0.5 percentage point to 2.7 percent.
Others surveyed in late December, Barclays, BoA-Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan, Citi, Goldman Sachs, Nomura Securities, and UBS, have retained their previous projections ranging from 3 percent to 4.1 percent.
UBS gave the rosiest outlook of 4.1 percent.
South Korea's Ministry of Economy and Finance recently forecasted a 3.2 percent growth, while the Bank of Korea gave a 3 percent outlook.
The average 2021 outlook for the global economy stood at 5.7 percent.
The forecast for China was an 8.4 percent growth, while the US was given a 4.4 percent growth outlook. Japan is expected to grow 3 percent.
