Global Dining Table Prices on Red Alert Amid Tariff Shock [3-Minute Brief]

① Rice prices in Japan double in a year... Eggs become "golden eggs"
② Korea CXO Institute analyzes 2,761 listed stocks
③ Expert group to propose differentiated plan to raise elderly age standard to 65 to the government

MARKET INDEX : Year to date

○ The three major indices closed higher on expectations of trade negotiations.

○ S&P 500 and Dow extended their winning streak to six consecutive sessions.

○ Mega-cap tech companies showed mixed performance near flat, with only Tesla rising more than 2%.

Top3 NEWS

■ Rice prices in Japan surge 92.1%, eggless Easter in the US... Global dining tables face red alert

○ Ongoing rice shortage in Japan leads to a 20-fold surge in private imports
○ The US suffers from 'eggflation'... up 41% this year
○ Concerns over global food security... negative impact on prices

■ Market cap of listed companies increased by 70 trillion won in Q1, but 6 out of 10 saw a decline

○ As of the end of March, domestic market cap stood at 2,324 trillion won
○ Up by 70 trillion won from the 2,254 trillion won at the start of the year
○ Overall size grew, but 56.9% of companies saw a decrease in market cap

■ Raising the elderly age: policy adjustments to be differentiated by system

○ Basic pension age will rise to 70 by 2040; National Pension to 68 by 2048
○ Senior citizen benefits to be raised to 70 before 2040
○ Key issues: extending retirement age, reemployment, and wage system reform

Graphic News: Financial literacy polarization... 20s & low-income down vs 50s & high-income up

○ Bank of Korea and Financial Supervisory Service '2024 National Financial Literacy Survey'
○ Financial goals and asset accumulation, such as saving 100 million won, are on the rise... but people in their 20s remain vulnerable
○ Financial attitudes are improving: "More saving than spending, more focus on the future than the present"

the Chart: Base rate to be cut further... will loan rates also fall?

○ KB Kookmin Bank further lowers non-face-to-face mortgage loan rates
○ As the base rate falls, both loan rates and deposit/savings rates are dropping
○ Interest rates are likely to remain on a downward trend for the time being

Today's Key Schedule

○Domestic

08:00 Korea Retail Sales (MoM) (March)

○Overseas

10:30 China Manufacturing PMI (April)

14:30 France GDP (QoQ) (Q1)

15:00 Germany Retail Sales (MoM) (March)

21:30 GDP (QoQ) (Q1)

23:30 Crude Oil Inventories

◇ Lunchtime & After-work Weather

○ Lowest temperature: 12℃ (▼4℃) ｜ Highest temperature: 25℃ (▲5℃)
○ Precipitation probability: 0% in the morning ｜ 20% in the afternoon
○ Fine dust: Moderate in the morning ｜ Moderate in the afternoon

All you need in 3 minutes: essential, value-for-time economic news. Published daily at 8 a.m.