Oil Prices Jump 3% as Houthi Attack Revives Supply Fears 
US Stock Futures Fall as Treasury Yields Surge Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit 
Germany’s 2026 Growth Outlook Strengthens on Fiscal Spending 
Australia Unemployment Hits Five-Year High Despite Strong Jobs Growth 
Dollar Falls as Oil Eases, Yen Jumps on Intervention Signals 
Japanese Yen Rebounds as Trump Flags Currency Weakness 
Mexico-US Trade Talks Delayed to October as Tariff Negotiations Continue 
Wall Street Ends Flat as Oil, Treasury Yields and Fed Jitters Rattle Markets 
Asian Currencies Mixed as Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High 
Fed’s Hammack Says Bond Yield Surge Is Not Driven by Inflation Fears 
Trump, Xi Focus on Trade and AI at White House Summit 
European Stocks Fall as Bond Yields and Geopolitical Risks Weigh 
US 10-Year Treasury Yield at 6% Emerges as New Market Risk Threshold 
China Agrees to Buy 20 Million Tons of U.S. Coal 
UK PM Burnham to Unveil Economic Vision at Labour Conference 
Oil Prices Fall on U.S.-Iran Hormuz Deal Hopes 
Gold Holds Near $4,275 as Rising Treasury Yields Fuel Fed Rate Hike Bets 
Add as a preferred source on Google
South Korea’s exports likely declined in May for the first time in four months, as rising U.S. tariff pressures outweighed strong demand for semiconductors, according to a Reuters poll of 16 economists. The median forecast anticipates a 2.7% year-on-year drop, marking the first decline since January.
The country, Asia’s fourth-largest economy and the first major exporter to release monthly trade data, will announce its May export figures on Sunday, June 1 at 9 a.m. (0000 GMT).
In April, exports rose 3.7% despite a 6.8% fall in U.S.-bound shipments, largely due to robust semiconductor sales—particularly high-end chips used in AI. However, economists caution that the strength in chip exports may reflect preemptive buying ahead of potential tariffs. Chun Kyu-yeon of Hana Securities noted that concerns over U.S. duties on semiconductor imports could have led to early orders in May.
Preliminary data for the first 20 days of May showed exports down 2.4%, with shipments to the U.S. plunging 14.6% and exports to China dropping 7.2%. President Trump’s administration has already imposed 25% tariffs on South Korean automobiles and steel, and proposed additional duties on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. A 10% baseline tariff remains in effect as broader reciprocal measures are paused pending negotiation.
Economists warn the downturn signals broader trade concerns. Stephen Lee of Meritz Securities emphasized that falling exports to both the U.S. and China suggest weakening global demand. He forecasts continued declines in Q2 following a drop in Q1 exports—the first in 18 months.
Imports are expected to have declined 3.1% in May, deeper than April’s 2.7% fall. The trade surplus is projected at $4.61 billion, slightly below April’s $4.88 billion.
