BOJ Governor Ueda Meets Key Ministers as Markets Eye Policy Shifts Under New Leadership 
Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
U.S. Stocks Rise as Cooler Inflation Boosts Hopes for Fed Rate Cut 
Kazakhstan Central Bank Holds Interest Rate at 18% as Inflation Pressures Persist 
BOJ Seen Moving Toward December Rate Hike as Yen Slides 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
New RBNZ Governor Anna Breman Aims to Restore Stability After Tumultuous Years 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
RBA Signals Possible Rate Implications as Inflation Proves More Persistent 
The Bank of Korea (BoK) is expected to leave its policy rate unchanged at 1.50 percent on Thursday morning, largely due to the nation’s benign inflation outlook, hovering U.S.-China trade disputes and the Fed’s further gradual rate hikes, according to the latest research report from Scotiabank.
In addition, the Nikkei South Korea Manufacturing PMI fell to 49.1 in March from 50.3 a month earlier, the weakest reading in eight months. It was partly attributable to uncertainty surrounding US-S. Korea FTA and US-China trade disputes.
However, the factory activity gauge is likely to rebound moderately in the coming months after the US and South Korea agreed on a revised FTA in March. In addition, Senior Trump administration officials including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and National Economic Council Director Lawrence Kudlow softened some of the rhetoric on trade disputes with China on Sunday. US President Trump also promised on Monday to remedy the negative effects on US farmers who have been caught up in his administration’s trade conflicts with China.
A Trump administration official said on Sunday that North Korea has told the US that its leader, Kim Jong-un, is willing to discuss denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, according to the WSJ. The confirmation could pave the way for a summit meeting between North Korean leader Kim and US President Trump, keeping geopolitical situation staying under control ahead of the possible summit. US President Trump said at the start of a cabinet meeting on Monday that "we’ll be meeting with them sometime in May, or early June."
"We maintain our short USD/KRW position targeting 1,050 for now, taking into account a currency deal between the US and South Korea and US Treasury Department’s semi-annual FX policy report due mid-April. In April, South Korean listed companies paying dividends to overseas investors could boost demand for dollars on the scheduled due dates," the report added.
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