China Expands Export Controls, Adds 20 Japanese Companies to Restricted List 
Japan Targets 1%+ Real Economic Growth With ¥370 Trillion Investment Plan 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
Gold Price Falls as Fed Rate Hike Fears and U.S.-Iran Tensions Weigh on Bullion 
China Sets 1.25% Overnight Reverse Repo Rate Below Market Expectations 
Asian Currencies Stay Range-Bound as Investors Eye China Data, RBNZ Outlook and U.S.-Iran Ceasefire 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
Asian Stocks Slip as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Lift Oil, Dollar Strength Persists 
US Stock Futures Rise as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Boost Market Sentiment 
Economic pessimism has set in – but there are reasons for Australians to be hopeful 
Oil Prices Rise as US-Iran Tensions Threaten Strait of Hormuz Oil Shipments 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
South Korea’s retail sales fell 0.6% in December, marking the fourth consecutive month without growth as weak consumer spending and political turmoil dampened demand, government data showed Monday. The downturn followed President Yoon Suk Yeol’s shocking martial law declaration on Dec. 3, which led to his impeachment and arrest, further unsettling the economy.
Statistics Korea reported a 4.1% drop in sales of cars and home appliances, while entertainment spending declined 0.6%, reflecting subdued year-end celebrations. The economic uncertainty weighed on consumer sentiment during what is typically a peak shopping season.
“The martial law declaration has weakened sentiment, and export growth is losing momentum,” said Park Sang-hyun, an economist at iM Securities.
South Korea’s economy barely expanded in Q4, growing just 0.1%. The political crisis also sent the South Korean won plunging to a 15-year low, amplifying market instability.
Despite sluggish retail performance, industrial output surged 4.6% in December, far exceeding the 0.4% increase predicted by economists. The gain, driven by strong semiconductor and automobile production, marked the sharpest monthly rise since August 2023, offering a rare bright spot in the economy.
The data underscores the widening gap between industrial recovery and consumer spending, with political instability further complicating South Korea’s economic outlook.
