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Asia Economy

South Korea's Factory Output Plunges on Weak Exports and Confidence

South Korea's factory output fell sharply in November, according to government data released Monday by Statistics Korea, exceeding economists' forecasts and signaling further strain on the manufacturing sector. The industrial output index (KRIO) dropped 0.7% on a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, compared to expectations of a

South Korea to Ease FX Rules, Pump More Funds into Market

South Korea will loosen foreign exchange regulations and inject more funds into the domestic stock market in an effort to stabilize the won and broader financial system, according to a report by Korea Economic Daily. These measures aim to counter the recent sharp depreciation of the won against the US

South Korea Overtakes Japan in Per Capita GDP for First Time, Signaling Shift in Economic Power

South Korea has surpassed Japan in per capita gross domestic product for the first time ever, according to data released by Japan's Cabinet Office. The shift, reported by Nikkei Asia, marks a significant change in the economic landscape of East Asia and is attributed to Japan's

China Lifts Four-Year Ban on Australian Rock Lobster Imports

China has lifted a four-year ban on Australian rock lobster imports, marking a significant step in the ongoing stabilization of relations between the two countries, reports the Wall Street Journal. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Friday that China had notified Australia of the immediate resumption of live rock lobster

Malaysia Aims for Lower Inflation in 2025 as Subsidy Reform Takes Shape

Malaysia expects inflation to moderate towards the lower end of its target range in 2025, driven by a phased rollback of fuel subsidies, according to Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. Ramli outlined a "surgical approach" to removing fuel subsidies, focusing on higher-income

Singapore's MAS May Hold Off on Easing Despite Low Inflation

Singapore's Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) may hold off on easing monetary policy at its January review, despite slowing inflation, as the central bank seeks to assess the impact of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump's policies, analysts told Reuters. This comes as data next week,

South Korea's Potential Growth Rate Plummets to Around 2%, Warns Central Bank

South Korea's potential for economic growth is dwindling, according to a report released Thursday by the Bank of Korea (BOK), which attributes the decline to a lack of innovation and inefficient resource allocation. Reuters reports that the central bank estimates the potential growth rate, defined as the maximum

South Korea's M&A Market Collapses as Investment Drops 40%

South Korea's merger and acquisition (M&A) market experienced a dramatic downturn in 2024, with investment plummeting by approximately 40 percent compared to last year, reports Yonhap News Agency. According to data from corporate research firm CEO Score, the combined M&A investment by the top

South Korea Risks Extended Slump as BOK Warns of Low Growth and Inflation

South Korea's economy faces a significant risk of prolonged low growth and low inflation, warning the Bank of Korea (BOK) in a report released Wednesday, according to Yonhap News Agency. The central bank cannot rule out the possibility of Asia's fourth-largest economy experiencing this double whammy