"Attack from China First"…Trump's Tariff War Commander is a Billionaire [3-Minute Brief]

[At a Glance]
① IMF Lowers South Korea's Economic Growth Forecast for Next Year
② Q3 Operating Profit of Listed Mid-sized Companies Down 6%
③ Lotte Stumbles Amid 'Liquidity Crisis' Rumors

MARKET INDEX

○ U.S. New York Stock Exchange's three major indexes closed mixed
○ NVIDIA to announce earnings after market close
○ "More important for year-end market than December FOMC"

TOP 3 NEWS

■ IMF Downgrades South Korea's Economic Growth Forecast

○ IMF announced results of this year's annual consultation
○ Adjusted growth rate reflecting Q3 performance
○ Also requested measures to address rapid aging population

■ Mid-sized Listed Companies' Q3 Operating Profit Down 6%... Contrast with Large Corporations

○ CEO Score analyzed 488 listed companies
○ Sales increased 3.5%, operating profit decreased 6%
○ Contrasts with overall Q3 trend of large corporations

■ Trump Nominates Lutnick as Commerce Secretary... Leading Pressure on China

○ Wall Street billionaire Lutnick nominated as Commerce Secretary
○ Role in restoring U.S. manufacturing and checking China
○ Chose Commerce Secretary after competing for Treasury Secretary

Graphic News: Lotte Shaken by Liquidity Crisis Rumors

○ Liquidity crisis rumors surrounding Lotte Group enter a lull phase
○ Lotte's borrowings increase... "Liquidity concerns are excessive"
○ Securities firms also issue reports denying crisis rumors

Law That Pays

■ Online Platform Regulation Law to be Enacted Within the Year

○ National Assembly begins full discussion on online platform regulation
○ Aims to strengthen fair market competition and consumer protection
○ Plans to explore regulatory directions through domestic and international cases
☞Read article: https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2024112013532344999

■ "Does the Corruption Investigation Office Take Orders from the Prosecutors?"... Refusal to Supplement Investigation into 1.5 Billion Won Bribery Case Involving Audit Board Executive

○ Corruption Investigation Office and prosecutors clash over Audit Board bribery case
○ Blame-shifting causes 'ping-pong controversy'
○ Problem arises from limited prosecution authority of Corruption Investigation Office
☞Read article: https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2024112013550554000

■ "Introduce Bigamy Crime to Protect Monogamy"

○ Criminal punishment for adultery abolished, making it impossible to penalize infidelity
○ "Should establish bigamy crime in criminal law to punish those who commit extramarital affairs at the level of de facto marriage"
☞Read article: https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2024112013563157270

※ 'Law That Pays,' a content partnership corner between Asia Economy and Law Times, is published every Tuesday and Thursday.

Terms in the News: American Version of 'Kkaesimin'? America Tired of 'Woke'

○ Citizens awake to social injustices such as discrimination
○ Distorted to criticize excessive political correctness
○ Movie 'The Little Mermaid' also faced public rejection

Today's Key Schedule

○Domestic

21st: KOSDAQ Kyobo17 SPAC listing, offering price 2,000 KRW

○Overseas

00:30 U.S. Crude Oil Inventories

22:30 U.S. Initial Jobless Claims

22:30 Philadelphia Fed November Manufacturing Activity Index

22:30 Philadelphia Fed November Employment Rate

22:30 Canada October Raw Materials Price Index

◇ Lunch & Commute Weather

○ Lowest temperature 6℃(▲4℃) ｜ Highest temperature: 14℃(▲2℃)
○ Precipitation probability 60% in the morning｜60% in the afternoon
○ Fine dust level Moderate in the morning｜Moderate in the afternoon

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