South Korea holds rates as Trump tariffs heighten economic risks

Jihoon Lee - Reuters - 17/04
South Korea's central bank left its policy interest rate unchanged as expected on Thursday, a decision designed to aid a wobbly won as Washington's attempts to reorder global trade by imposing sweeping tariffs threaten to damage economic growth.
SEOUL, April 17 (Reuters) - South Korea's central bank left its policy interest rate unchanged as expected on Thursday, a decision designed to aid a wobbly won as Washington's attempts to reorder global trade by imposing sweeping tariffs threaten to damage economic growth.
The Bank of Korea's seven-member board held its benchmark interest rate (KROCRT=ECI), opens new tab at 2.75% at its monetary policy review, an outcome expected by 24 of 37 economists polled by Reuters.

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Analysts are wagering the BOK will take the benchmark interest rate to 2.25% by the end of the third quarter this year as shifting U.S. tariff policy fuels fears of a global recession and threaten to sap demand for exports out of Asia's fourth-largest economy.
Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok on Tuesday warned of significant downside risks to growth from tariffs and said the government will try to delay the imp...
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