The Bank of Korea maintained its 7-day repurchase rate unchanged at 3.25%. The Bank said: “Based on currently available information, the Committee considers that, while emerging market economies have shown favorable performances, major advanced economies have exhibited signs of sluggishness. Going forward the Committee forecasts that the global economy will show a recovery, albeit a moderate one; nevertheless, the Committee judges that downside risks to growth have expanded.”
At its September meeting this year the Bank of Korea also held the interest rate unchanged at 3.25%, after increasing the 7-day repurchase rate by 25 basis points to 3.25% at its June meeting. South Korea reported annual consumer price inflation of 4.3% in September, compared to 5.3% in August, 4.7% in July 4.4% in June, 4.1% in May, and 4.2% in April.
The inflation rate is currently just above the Bank’s inflation target of 2%-4% through 2012. The South Korean Won (KRW) has weakened by about 4% so far this year, while the USDKRW exchange rate last traded around 1,155.
