Asset Markets Swayed by 'Waller' Risk... Safe-Haven Assets Rebound [3-Minute Brief]

[At a Glance]
1. Safe-haven asset volatility intensifies after Fed chair nomination
2. Precision from Japan, low prices from China... K-robot parts caught in the middle
3. Eyes on the Bank of Korea's message ahead of February MPC meeting

MARKET INDEX

○ All three major U.S. stock indices closed higher.

○ Gains driven by improved U.S. manufacturing indicators.

○ Gold and silver, which had plunged, stabilized somewhat... U.S. Treasury yields on the rise.

TOP 3 NEWS

■ "Honey, should we sell now? Or should we hold?" Heaven and hell in a day... Gold and silver swing wildly

○ Gold and silver rebound as safe-haven assets... Volatility intensifies
○ Trump pushes for rate cuts... Pressures Waller
○ Even within the Republican Party, there are dissenting votes on Waller's confirmation 

■ "100,000 won in Korea, 3,000 won in China"... K-robot parts miss the 'golden time' [Robot Parts War] ①

○ Precision from Japan, price from China
○ Korean-made robot parts caught in the middle
○ There is demand and supply, but the market is small 

■ [Why&Next] "Eyes on the message, not the rate decision" - Key issues for the Bank of Korea ahead of this month's MPC meeting

○ The exchange rate has dropped to the 1,430-won level, but "authorities remain vigilant"
○ New Fed chair nomination and U.S. implicit agreement for investment support a stronger won
○ Concerns over rising real estate prices... Need to check if supply measures are calming market sentiment 

Graphic News: [Private Equity Now] "Bulk sale not working" - Private equity funds activate Plan B

○ Taking a cautious approach to sales, monitoring public opinion after the Homeplus situation
○ Utilizing block deals, carve-outs, refinancing, and more
○ Actively leveraging financial techniques... Even considering "non-sale exits"

Money-Making Law

■ Constitutional Court upholds constitutionality of 'hiring age discrimination penalties' and 'crime of obstruction of work by hierarchical means'

○ Constitutional Court rules penalty clause for hiring age discrimination constitutional
○ Clause on 'crime of obstruction of work by hierarchical means' also found constitutional
○ The age discrimination ruling was 7-2, the obstruction of work ruling was unanimous
☞Read the article: https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2026020215540560415

■ "Where will the 675 elite anti-corruption investigators go?"

○ Concerns about weakened investigative capacity ahead of the launch of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and the Public Prosecution Agency
○ Worries that 10 years of cultivated prosecutorial expertise may go to waste
○ Experts say legislation is needed to ensure the transfer of personnel and know-how
☞Read the article: https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2026020215553978185

■ High upfront fees, split contracts... 10 years of 'invalid criminal success fees'

○ After criminal success fees were invalidated, variant contracts have proliferated
○ Bar associations continue lawsuits and discussions to change case law
○ There are practical limits to introducing time charges
☞Read the article: https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2026020215572988241

* 'Money-Making Law,' a content partnership between The Asia Business Daily and Law Times, is published every Tuesday and Thursday.

Today's Key Schedule

○ Domestic

08:00 Consumer Price Index (YoY) (January)

○ Overseas

00:00 U.S. ISM Manufacturing PMI (January)

00:00 U.S. ISM Manufacturing Prices (January)

23:40 U.S. FOMC member Bowman speech

23:50 Speech by Bundesbank's Balz (Germany)

◇Lunch & Evening Commute Weather

○Lowest temperature: -7℃ (▼2℃) ｜Highest temperature: 4℃ (▲3℃)
○ Precipitation probability: 0% in the morning | 0% in the afternoon
○ Fine dust: Good in the morning | Good in the afternoon

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