The South Korean won appreciated to around 1,471 per dollar on Tuesday, rebounding from multi-month lows as expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut grew, with investors awaiting the latest US economic data for signals on upcoming policy decisions. Domestic developments also bolstered sentiment, as the Bank of Korea prepares for Thursday’s rate-setting meeting. Policymakers are expected to weigh financial-stability risks from rising apartment prices and strong third-quarter growth, including a 1.2% GDP increase, which may limit further monetary easing. Adding to the positive outlook, the IMF maintained its 2025 growth forecast for South Korea at 0.9%, noting the economy entered a recovery phase in H2. It expects stronger improvement in 2026, supported by recovering consumption, accommodative policies, and improved post-election consumer sentiment.
