Bank of Korea chief says won volatility a little ‘excessive’

The Bank of Korea will intervene to control currency volatility if needed, the central bank’s chief told CNBC, describing the recent market fluctuations as a little “excessive.” Central bank governor Rhee Chang-yong said external factors are fueling the Korean won‘s movement. “I think the recent movement is a little bit excessive judging from what we … Read more

Natural disasters caused an estimated $65 billion in losses last year for Asia-Pacific

Economic losses in the Asia Pacific region soared to $65 billion due to natural disasters, mainly fueled by floods in China and droughts in India, as reported by insurance company Aon. Hadynyah | E+ | Getty Images Economic losses in the Asia Pacific region due to natural disasters soared to $65 billion in 2023, mainly … Read more

A new gold rush for a potential clean energy source

The team from the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) took samples of natural hydrogen gas found in One Pute Jaya Village, Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, 23 October 2023. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images A global gold rush is underway for a long-overlooked resource that advocates say … Read more

South Korea’s medical professors join protests, reduce hours in practice

Medical professors in South Korea said they will cut back on the hours they spend in practice starting on Monday to support trainee doctors on strike for more than a month over a government plan to boost medical school admissions. “It is clear that increasing medical school admissions will not only ruin medical school education … Read more

Inflation battle may be far from over

Workers assemble printed circuit boards at the Intervala manufacturing facility in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. The US Census Bureau is scheduled to release factory orders figures on February 2. Justin Merriman | Bloomberg | Getty Images This report is from today’s CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily … Read more

Markets surge on Fed rate-cut signals

A trader works, as a screen displays the Fed rate announcement, on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., March 20, 2024.  Brendan McDermid | Reuters This report is from today’s CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything … Read more

Wall Street heaves a sigh of relief

U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell holds a press conference following a two-day meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee on interest rate policy in Washington, U.S., March 20, 2024. Elizabeth Frantz | Reuters This report is from today’s CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on … Read more

Inflation fight gets harder in final stretch

A customer shops at a supermarket in Oregon. Wang Ying | Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images This report is from today’s CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? You can subscribe here. … Read more

South Korea plans to speed up reforms to boost shareholder returns

A currency dealer monitors exchange rates in a trading room at KEB Hana Bank in Seoul, South Korea. Jung Yeon-Je | AFP | Getty Images South Korea’s financial regulator will look at speeding up the corporate reforms proposed last month and could reportedly add newer measures, after market players voiced concerns the announced steps might … Read more

Seoul’s Spy Agency Says North Korea Cyberattack On South Korean Chip Equipment Firms

Pyongyang has always denied involvement in cybercrimes(File) Seoul: North Korea’s hacking groups have broken into at least two South Korean manufacturers of chipmaking equipment, as the country looks to evade sanctions and turn out its own semiconductors for weapons programmes, South Korea’s spy agency said on Monday. The news comes after South Korean President Yoon … Read more