Controversy Over 'Half-Price Nuclear Power Plant' Subsidies... Red Light for Czech Nuclear Export [3-Minute Brief]

① Czech Nuclear Power Plant Faces Final-Stage Setback... 'Foreign Subsidies' at the Center of Debate
② Net Interest Margin of Top 5 Banks at 1.71% in Q1... Downward Trend Continues
③ China Cuts Reserve Requirement Ratio... Injects About 193 Trillion Won in Long-Term Market Liquidity

MARKET INDEX

○ All three major U.S. stock indices rose... late-session rebound
○ U.S. Fed keeps rates unchanged for the third consecutive time, despite pressure from Trump
○ U.S.-China talks draw attention, with focus on possible easing of AI chip export restrictions

TOP 3 NEWS

■ Controversy over 'half-price nuclear power plants' subsidies... Korean export strategy clashes with Europe

○ The Czech Dukovany nuclear power plant project faces obstacles in its final stage... the key issue is 'foreign subsidies'
○ EDF (?lectricit? de France) claims Korea's bid is at a dumping level due to government subsidies
○ Czech court accepts the French side's objection

■ Declining net interest margins for the five major banks as rates fall, making interest income harder

○ Net interest margin for the five major banks in Q1: 1.71%
○ Down 0.11 percentage points from Q1 last year
○ The downward trend in net interest margin is expected to continue as the base rate declines 

■ People's Bank of China: "Reserve requirement ratio cut by 0.5 percentage points... 193 trillion won in liquidity supplied"

○ Reverse repurchase agreement rate cut from 1.5% to 1.4%
○ Loan prime rate also expected to be cut by 0.1 percentage points
○ China in a tariff war with the U.S.... "Growth rate expected to slow from Q2"

Graphic News: "Entry barriers rise next year" - Why securities firms are moving faster

○ Seven firms have applied... the first IMA and the sixth mega-investment bank expected to launch in the second half
○ Entry barriers for investment brokerage businesses will become even higher at every stage from next year
○ Financial authorities also express determination to foster a 'Korean-style Goldman Sachs'

Money-Making Law

■ China emerges as a hub for resolving international IP disputes

○ Hearings completed in an average of 73 days
○ Number of foreign company cases up 45% year-on-year
○ "Competitive in processing speed"
☞Read the article:  https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2025050716091972847

■ Law firms strengthen 'silver town' teams

○ After the government announced plans to promote senior residences
○ Investor interest in 'senior housing' is increasing
○ Law firms are responding by forming specialized teams 
☞Read the article:  https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2025050716193722363

■ "Celltrion not obligated to directly hire outsourced cleaning and disinfection staff"

○ Celltrion overturned its first trial loss with a victory on appeal
○ The court ruled that simply performing tasks according to SOPs
○ Does not constitute work-related supervision or command
☞Read the article:  https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2025050716271939620

※ The 'Money-Making Law' section, a content partnership between Asia Economy and Law Times, is published every Tuesday and Thursday.

Today's Key Schedule

○ Domestic

May 8: Now Robotics to be listed on KOSDAQ, final IPO price set at 6,800 KRW

May 8: ImmuneOncia subscription on KOSDAQ, final IPO price set at 3,600 KRW

May 8: BioVisu subscription on KOSDAQ, final IPO price set at 9,100 KRW

12:00 Korea's foreign exchange reserves (USD) (April)

○International

03:00 U.S. interest rate decision, FOMC statement

08:50 Japan monetary policy meeting minutes

15:00 Germany industrial production (MoM) (March), trade balance (March)

20:02 UK interest rate decision (May)

21:00 Bank of England inflation letter

21:30 U.S. initial jobless claims

◇Lunch & Evening Commute Weather

○ Lowest temperature: 10°C (▲10°C) ｜ Highest temperature: 23°C (▲19°C)
○ Precipitation probability: 0% in the morning ｜ 10% in the afternoon
○ Fine dust: Moderate in the morning ｜ Moderate in the afternoon

Three minutes is all you need: essential, cost-effective economic news. Published daily at 8:00 AM.