Wall Street Futures Rise Ahead of JOLTS Data, Nike Earnings, and U.S.-Iran Talks 
Argentina Economy Shrinks 1.5% in April, Recovery Under Milei Loses Momentum 
Global Financial Firms Shift Asia Expansion Focus to South Korea as China, India Face Caution 
Asian Currencies Stay Range-Bound as Investors Eye China Data, RBNZ Outlook and U.S.-Iran Ceasefire 
Greece’s Bad Loan Crisis Continues to Limit Credit Access Despite Economic Recovery 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S.-Iran Talks Keep Geopolitical Risks in Focus 
Trump Urges Gasoline Retailers to Cut Prices to $2.50 Per Gallon, Warns of Legal Action 
NATO Albania Summit Faces Uncertainty as Trump, Defense Spending Concerns Loom 
Gold Prices Drop as Fed Rate Outlook and Iran Tensions Weigh on Market 
Dollar Slips Ahead of Key U.S. Jobs Data as Fed Rate Outlook, ECB, and Iran Talks Shape Forex Markets 
Gold Price Hits Annual Low as Fed Rate Hike Bets and Sticky Inflation Weigh on Bullion 
Yen Falls to 40-Year Low as Markets Watch Japan Intervention and U.S. Jobs Report 
US Stock Futures Steady as Investors Await Payrolls Data and Monitor Iran Tensions 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Holds Firm, Yen Near Four-Decade Low Ahead of Fed, Jobs Data 
U.S. Stocks End Q2 Higher as Strong Jobs Data and AI Rally Lift Wall Street 
Economic pessimism has set in – but there are reasons for Australians to be hopeful 
Trump Suspends Some Morocco Fertilizer Tariffs to Ease U.S. Supply Shortage 
South Korea's Export Growth Slows Amid Weakening Global Demand
South Korea’s export growth is anticipated to decline for the third consecutive month in October, reflecting cooling global demand for computer chips. A recent Reuters poll, conducted between October 24 to 29, forecasts outbound shipments from Asia's fourth-largest economy to increase by 6.9% year-on-year. This figure, while indicating continued growth, is lower than September's 7.5% and marks the slowest rate since June.
Chun Kyu-yeon, an economist at Hana Securities, noted that “export growth has likely entered a slowing trend” as IT demand wanes, coupled with subdued interest in non-semiconductor exports. South Korea, recognized for being the first major economy to release monthly trade figures, is set to publish its October data on November 1 at 9 a.m. (0000 GMT).
The third quarter showed minimal growth for the economy, primarily due to reduced semiconductor exports to the United States. Analyst Oh Suk-tae from Societe Generale highlighted that a continued slowdown in the semiconductor sector could negatively impact the overall economic outlook.
In the first 20 days of October, exports dropped 2.9%, with shipments to the U.S. and the European Union declining by 2.6% and 8.9%, respectively. However, exports to China experienced a slight increase of 1.2%. Park Sang-Hyun from iM Securities remarked on the anticipated slowdown in U.S.-bound shipments and weaker-than-expected recovery for shipments to China.
Imports are expected to rise 2.0% in October, following a 2.2% increase in September. The trade balance for this month is projected to show a surplus of $4.23 billion, down from $6.66 billion in September.
