The Bank of Korea held rates at 2.50% and raised its 2026 growth forecast in Governor Hyun Song Shin’s first meeting, pledging to deal firmly with currency herding. The rupiah hit a record low of Rp17,846 on a ninth straight weekly fall. China’s State Council unveiled an urban-renewal plan leaning on REITs and asset-backed financing. The Nikkei pulled back from record highs as Taiwan’s bourse planned major reforms. Today’s Asia intelligence brief covers the region’s finance, markets, economy, politics, and security tape.
South Korea
Bank of Korea Holds at 2.50% in Hawkish Hold
The Bank of Korea kept its policy rate at 2.50% in Governor Hyun Song Shin’s first meeting, a decision the market read as a hawkish hold. The rate has now been held near 2.50% for roughly a year.
The bank raised its 2026 growth forecast to 2.6%, citing stronger-than-expected semiconductor-led exports. Bonds rallied even on the hawkish tone as markets weighed slowing real-economy momentum.
