Policy uncertainty is muddling retirement planning — and advisers are just as confused

BNY’s Geoff Yu highlights a hawkish 25bp hike by the Bank of Korea (BoK) to 2.75%, with guidance that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and core inflation will exceed earlier forecasts. Authorities are also tightening rules on single-stock leveraged ETF/ETN products to curb speculative leverage in memory chip names. Asian semiconductor stocks, including SK Hynix and…

Central banks are scaling back on the dollar as institutional bullion buying climbs to record highs. In the World Gold Council’s (WGC) latest annual survey of central banks, 83% of respondents expect to increase their gold holdings over the next year. That’s up from 76% in 2025. This surge in demand is due to the…

DBS Group Research economist Ma Tieying analyzes the latest Bank of Korea (BoK) decision, noting a hawkish shift as the base rate is raised to 2.75%. The report now anticipates a faster tightening cycle, with the policy rate reaching 3.25% by year-end 2026. Growth is expected to benefit from the AI-driven semiconductor sector, while Consumer…

Why staying in your longtime home requires more planning than you think.

EUR/USD trades lower near the 1.1370 area on Friday, struggling despite stronger-than-expected Eurozone business-activity figures. The US Dollar Index (DXY) remains firmer near 101.50, offering limited support to the pair. Germany’s preliminary HCOB Composite Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) climbed to 51.2 in July from 49.5, exceeding expectations of 49.8 and returning to expansion territory. Manufacturing…

The Euro holds firm against the US Dollar on Wednesday as hostilities in the Middle East continued, with the US attacking Iran for the second straight day at around the Strait of Hormuz. At the time of writing, the EUR/USD trades at 1.1420, after bouncing off daily lows of 1.1391. EUR/USD holds firm as Fed…