MONEY MASTER

South Korea is ramping up emergency measures as the  Middle East conflict drives oil prices higher , exposing the country’s heavy reliance on energy imports and raising risks to growth, inflation, and supply chains. Government Activates Emergency Response System Prime Minister  Kim Min-seok  has called for a  “whole-of-government” crisis response , warning that the conflict could be prolonged and requires  urgent contingency planning . Authorities will: Establish an  emergency economic task force  meeting twice weekly Set up a  presidential-level crisis monitoring unit Accelerate policy coordination across ministries This reflects a shift toward  full crisis management mode  as risks intensify. $16.7 Billion Stimulus to Cushion Impact The government plans a  25 trillion won (US$16.7 billion) supplementary budget , equivalent to roughly  0.9% of GDP , aimed at mitigating the economic fallout. Key focus areas include: Offsetting ...

Indonesia’s financial markets are set for a  volatile reopening  after the Lebaran holiday, as investors digest  geopolitical uncertainty from the Iran conflict  alongside growing  domestic fiscal and market concerns . Weak Sentiment Reflected in Offshore Trading Market signals during the holiday point to a cautious start. An ETF tracking Indonesian equities fell  around 2% , while a broader  ASEAN index declined 1.8% . Meanwhile,  offshore rupiah forwards rose only marginally , despite central bank intervention—highlighting  limited investor confidence . Oil Prices and War Headlines Add Uncertainty Fluctuating developments in the  Iran war  continue to drive sentiment. Although oil prices have eased slightly, they remain elevated, raising  inflation risks  and complicating Indonesia’s  policy environment . Analysts warn that higher energy costs could  delay capital market reforms  and tighten financial cond...

Summary Singapore markets opened higher, but  rising core inflation is bringing back expectations of policy tightening by MAS , even as global markets turn cautious amid tech weakness and oil volatility. Market Snapshot FTSE Singapore Straits Time Index :  +0.46% to 4,884.57 Volume / Value:  86.49M / S$130.68M Advancers / Decliners:  118 / 32 Singapore equities edged higher , supported by local resilience despite softer global cues. Wall Street Weakens on Tech Sell-Off US markets declined overnight: Nasdaq Composite Index   -0.8% S&P 500 Index   -0.4% Dow Jones Industrial Average   -0.2% Major laggards included: Salesforce   -6.2% Oracle   -4.7% Alphabet   -3.9% Microsoft   -2.7% The decline was driven by  concerns over AI disruption and pressure on tech earnings , alongside geopolitical uncertainty. Key Point: Tech weakness is weighing on global sentiment despite easing oil fears earlier Inflation Surprise Raises MAS Tight...