South Korea’s central bank kept interest rates steady Thursday in a widely expected move, amid easing concerns over the economic outlook and caution against rising household debt, the Wall Street Journal reported. The decision follows a rate cut at the Bank of Korea’s previous meeting in May, when it moved to support the flagging economy. Since then, exports have rebounded despite higher U.S. tariffs, and domestic political unrest has subsided.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday set a 25% tax on goods imported from Japan and South Korea, as well as new tariff rates on a dozen other nations that would go into effect on Aug. 1, the Associated Press reported. Trump provided notice by posting letters on Truth Social that were addressed to the leaders of the various countries. The letters warned them to not retaliate by increasing their own import taxes, or else the Trump administration would further increase tariffs.
A court on Friday approved a request to allow discount store chain Homeplus Co. to pursue a merger and acquisition (M&A) deal before a court decision on whether to approve its rehabilitation plan, the Korea Times reported. The Seoul Bankruptcy Court approved Homeplus' pursuit of the M&A deal and the selection of an M&A adviser prior to its rehabilitation plan-related court ruling.