Inclusion in the Global Sovereign Bond Index Fails Again... Next Opportunity Awaits [3-Minute Brief]

[3-Min Brief 3-Second Summary]
① US Stock Market Closed on April 20 'Good Friday'
② Korea Fails to Join Global Bond Index
③ "Hong ELS, Securities Firms' Losses Are Limited"

MARKET INDEX : Year to date

- US New York stock market's three major indices closed mixed near flat
- Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 hit all-time highs
- April 29th Good Friday holiday before Easter... US financial markets closed

Top3 NEWS

■ "NAND prices to rise 13~18% in Q2"

- NAND flash prices expected to increase double digits in Q2 following Q1
- "NAND prices likely rose about 23~28% from previous quarter in Q1"
- "Enterprise Solid State Drives (eSSD) expected to see highest price increase"

■ Korea fails third time to join World Government Bond Index, remains on watchlist

- Korea's inclusion in the World Government Bond Index (WGBI) failed again
- Efforts made including abolishing foreign investor registration system for inclusion
- "Aiming for inclusion in September this year... pursuing improvements in foreign investment system"

■ "Switching to monthly rent with tears"…The butterfly effect of official price decline

- Recent decline in official prices of officetels and villas causing tenant concerns
- This year’s nationwide officetel standard price down 4.77% compared to last year
- Declining official prices of non-apartments likely to accelerate conversion from jeonse to monthly rent

Graphic News: "I am ○○○'s family"... Fraud schemes using politicians' names

- Fraud cases related to politicians' families occurring one after another
- Using names to gain trust and solicit investments or borrow money
- Damage amounts range from tens of millions to hundreds of billions of won

the Chart: Bank of Korea "Hong Kong ELS losses limited for securities firms"

- Bank of Korea 'Financial Stability Report' states "Hong Kong ELS losses are limited"
- Hong Kong H Index has been declining since 2021 due to China's economic slowdown
- Increase in ELB issuance partially offsets sharp decline in ELS issuance

Terms in the News: Advanced sovereign bond club 'WGBI' that enhances national credibility

[Image source=Yonhap News]

- Major advanced country government bond index managed by UK FTSE Russell
- Inclusion involves a six-month review process if placed on watchlist
- Market accessibility is key... Korea failed due to lack of accessibility

Today's Key Schedule

○ Domestic

- 08:00 February Industrial Production
- 08:00 February Retail Sales

○ Overseas
- 08:30 Japan March Tokyo Core Consumer Price Index
- 08:50 Japan February Industrial Production
- 16:45 France March Consumer Price Index
- 21:30 US February Personal Consumption Expenditure Price Index

◇ Lunch & Commute Weather

○ Lowest temperature 5℃(▼3℃) ｜ Highest temperature: 13℃(▼1℃)
○ Precipitation probability morning 60%｜afternoon 0%
○ Fine dust morning very bad｜afternoon very bad

3 minutes is OK, essential time-efficient economic news. Published daily at 8 AM.