South Korea's Central Bank Expected to Freeze Key Interest Rate for May

South Korea's central bank is facing a pivotal decision as it weighs the nation's economic growth against the sharp ascent of the won against the U.S. dollar. Three global investment banks, including JP Morgan & Chase Co., predict that the Bank of Korea (BOK) will keep the key interest rate unchanged at 4 per cent in its May monetary policymaking meeting. The decision comes as the won has gained over 8 per cent against the dollar this year, making South Korean products more expensive in overseas markets and posing a significant risk to the nation's economic growth.

Key Takeaways:

• JP Morgan & Chase Co. predicts the BOK will keep the interest rate unchanged at 4 per cent in May, given the won's recent sharp ascent against the U.S. dollar.
• The BOK is expected to delay a further rate hike until the next meeting, despite rising oil and real estate prices.
• The won's appreciation has made South Korean products more expensive in overseas markets, emerging as a major risk for the nation's economic growth.
• Ten out of 17 analysts polled by Yonhap Infomax expected the BOK policymakers to freeze the key rate for a third month.
• Lehman Brothers also predicted a rate freeze, citing the core inflation remaining below the government's target level.
• Credit Suisse First Boston gave a cautious prediction, saying a rate increase might come in the second quarter due to favorable macroeconomic factors.
• The government projects the economy to grow 5 per cent this year on brisk domestic demand and exports.
• A group of South Korean business leaders urged the government to intervene to stem the won's rise against the dollar, citing concerns that it could pose a threat to the nation's export-driven economy.
• A 5 per cent gain in the won's value against the dollar is estimated to cut exports by 1.6 percentage points.

Statistics:

• 8%: Won's gain against the dollar this year.
• 4%: Won's appreciation against the dollar over the past two months.
• 5%: Government's projected economic growth this year.
• 1.6 percentage points: Estimated cut in exports due to a 5 per cent gain in the won's value against the dollar.
• 6.2%: South Korea's economic growth rate in the first quarter of the year.
• 4%: Current interest rate at 4 per cent.
• 17: Number of analysts polled by Yonhap Infomax.

Sources:

• "South Korea's central bank seen keeping rates unchanged: Survey" by Yonhap News Agency, published in Yonhap Infomax.
• "Korea's won rises to 8-year high, prompting concerns about exports" by Asia Pulse.
• "Korea's won, dollar rate at 8-year high" by Yonhap News Agency.