#fed policy

Fed Holds Rates Steady Amid Geopolitical Oil Crisis: Analyzing the Dollar Strength The primary market mover this week is the US Federal Reserve’s decision to maintain the Federal Funds Effective Rate at 3.5–3.75 percent. This pause comes despite simmering inflationary pressures driven by crude oil prices surging past $100 a barrel due to escalating tensions involving Iran. For the Korean market,…

Greetings from Seoul. As global markets digest the latest pronouncements from Washington, the pressure points connecting US monetary policy to the highly export-dependent South Korean economy are becoming intensely visible. Today, the immediate narrative is dominated by the Federal Reserve’s decision to hold interest rates steady, a move heavily influenced by geopolitical instability causing…

Greetings from Seoul. As global markets digest the latest pronouncements from Washington, the dynamic tension between US monetary policy and geopolitical instability is directly impacting the Korean peninsula. Today, the critical focus is on the Federal Reserve’s March decision to keep rates steady, a move necessitated by dual pressures: cooling US economic indicators and, most acutely, soaring…

1. Global Trigger: The Macro Shift The current global financial environment, as of March 19, 2026, is defined by a precarious balancing act undertaken by the US Federal Reserve. The latest intelligence confirms what markets had largely priced in: the FOMC opted to hold interest rates steady at the current target range of 3.50–3.75 percent. This decision is not a sign of confidence; rather, it is…

1. Global Trigger: The Macro Shift The confluence of domestic economic anxieties in the United States and escalating geopolitical turmoil has created a volatile cocktail for global markets, directly impacting the South Korean economic outlook. As of mid-March 2026, the Federal Reserve finds itself in an unenviable holding pattern. The latest economic readings confirm a deceleration, with GDP…

1. Global Trigger: The Macro Shift The global financial stage right now is defined by Federal Reserve uncertainty. While the US Federal Funds Effective Rate sits at 3.64% as of early February 2026, economic signals are contradictory. We see reports of a slowing US economy at the end of 2025, coupled with stubborn inflation figures (CPI at 327.460). This conflicting data creates market jitters…

1. Global Trigger: The Macro Shift The global economic landscape remains dominated by uncertainty, primarily stemming from persistent inflation concerns and the Federal Reserve’s cautious stance on interest rates. We see clear evidence of domestic strain in the US, highlighted by stories of citizens like Susan Cannon struggling with high credit card debt, suggesting tighter financial conditions…

1. Global Trigger: The Macro Shift The current global narrative is fixated on the Federal Reserve’s pivot trajectory, overlaid with significant domestic US financial strain. Despite evidence of a slowing US economy, indicated by sluggish hiring and lower-than-expected Q4 2025 GDP revisions, inflation data suggests the Fed Funds Effective Rate of 3.64% remains restrictive. This high-rate…