South Korea’s annual inflation projected to see sharpest growth in nearly 14 years

South Korean stocks open higher Thursday, as the US central bank signaled room for flexibility in aggressive interest rates hike plans. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 16.21 points, or 0.62 percent, to trade at 2,633.43 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, US stocks closed higher after the US Federal Reserve released minutes of its May meeting, which showed support for a 50-basis point increase in key rates over the next couple of meetings to tame inflation. The minu

South Korea plans to announce a set of measures to tame inflationary pressure and stabilize people's livelihoods next week amid the prospect that the growth of consumer prices could top 5 percent, a senior government official said Thursday. The country faces the urgency to stabilize prices of food and other items closely linked to people's lives, according to First Vice Finance Minister Bang Ki-sun. "Some experts forecast consumer inflation could exceed 5 percent in May, accelerat