Downside risks to the South Korean growth exist, following impeachment of President Park Guen-hye by the National Assembly on Friday. The country’s lawmakers have voted to impeach President Park from her executive powers on Friday. Her duties will be suspended with immediate effect, with the Prime Minister taking over in the interim.
The Court will now decide if she will be permanently removed from her position. A ruling could take up to six months. If approved, fresh elections will have to be called within two months, which means by August at the latest.
Her temporary suspension prevents the ongoing political crisis from deepening further in the near-term. Nevertheless, the lack of a clear leadership could complicate the ongoing government efforts to contain the fallout from production halts in its largest smartphone producer and restructuring in the shipping sectors.
"We see downside risks to our growth forecast of 2.9 percent for 2017," Commerzbank commented in its latest research report.


Nvidia China Chip Sales Report Sends Chinese Semiconductor Stocks Lower
China Industrial Profit Growth Slows as Weak Demand Offsets AI Gains
Iran Warns US Against Renewed Attacks as Hormuz Tensions Rise
Asian Currencies Weaken as Dollar, Oil Prices Rise
Australia Budget Deficit Narrows to A$22.3 Billion on Stronger Tax Revenue
Japan Warns Markets Over Yen Weakness
Oil Surge Pressures Global Stocks as U.S.-Iran Truce Hopes Fade
U.S. Stock Futures Steady as AI, Rate Concerns Weigh
RBA Set for September Rate Hike as Inflation Stays High
South Korea Exports Set for 16th Monthly Gain on AI Chip Demand
Best Gold Stocks to Buy Now: AABB, GOLD, GDX 



