Semiconductors and Automobiles Drive Record September Exports [3-Minute Brief]

Published 02 Oct.2025 08:00(KST)

[Quick Overview]
① September exports hit a record high of $65.9 billion... Semiconductors and automobiles lead the surge
② Retail investors exit the market, selling 17 trillion won despite KOSPI rally
③ Korea and the US reach a currency policy agreement... Averting the risk of 'currency manipulator' designation

MARKET INDEX

Semiconductors and Automobiles Drive Record September Exports [3-Minute Brief]

○New York Stock Exchange: Dow Jones and S&P reach all-time highs despite US government shutdown

○Market bets on a swift resolution

○Expectations for an October rate cut rise due to concerns over cooling employment

TOP 3 NEWS

■ Strong September export performance driven by 'increase in working days'... Daily average drops by 6.1%

○Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, import and export trends for September 2025
○Exports up 12.7%, reaching a record high in three years and six months
○Two fewer working days in October... Ministry pledges all-out efforts to minimize impact

■ Retail investors, seeing little benefit from short selling, dumped 17 trillion won on KOSPI

○Six months after resumption, short selling remains dominated by foreign and institutional investors
○Individual participation in short selling remains at just 1%
○Retail investors turn to inverse ETFs to express bearish sentiment

■ Korea avoids currency manipulator designation... Korea-US announce 'currency policy agreement'

○Korea and the US announced the agreement after separate negotiations from tariff talks
○Reaffirmed principle of not manipulating currency values
○Agreement eases burden of being on the currency monitoring list

Graphic News: Banks invest 80 trillion won... Slow progress from insurance sector in 'productive finance'

○This year, 80% of net bond purchases by insurers were in government bonds... Up 29 percentage points in two years

○Financial authorities are lowering risk weights to encourage productive finance, but clear limitations remain

○"A comprehensive approach, including insurance accounting, is needed for insurers to participate in productive finance"

Money-Making Law

■ Prosecution office with a one-year deadline... Constitutional appeal announced, with three key issues

○Regarding the 'filing date', it is possible to argue that there is no violation of basic rights as the law takes effect one year later
○'Eligibility of claimants' issue: must prove who is the party whose basic rights are infringed
○There is also a possibility of filing an injunction to suspend the effect at the same time as the constitutional appeal
☞Read more: https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/social-general/2025100115371047211

■ 500 million won frozen by Russia sanctions recovered by law firm

○Provided explanation to the US Office of Foreign Assets Control
○Paid to shipping company after two months
○Law firm Samyang submitted subpoena responses and license application
☞Read more: https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/social-general/2025100115383055222

■ 'Selling means loss'... Korea Trade Insurance Corporation's group insurance mismanagement: Loss ratio exceeds 100% for five years

○Insurance payouts by the corporation exceed premium income
○System to restrict high-risk companies from joining is inadequate
○"Stricter criteria needed to limit coverage for high-risk companies"
☞Read more: https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/social-general/2025100115384558533

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

Today's Key Schedule

○Domestic

○International

02:00 US Atlanta Federal Reserve GDPnow (Q3)

03:05 Speech by Bank of Canada Deputy Governor Rogers

10:30 Reserve Bank of Australia Financial Stability Report (August)

12:35 Japan 10-year JGB auction

15:30 Switzerland Consumer Price Index (MoM) (September)

16:00 Spain Unemployment Change (September)

21:30 US Initial Jobless Claims

23:00 US Factory Orders (MoM) (August)

◇Weather at Lunch & Commute

○Lowest temperature: 19°C (▲2°C) ｜Highest temperature: 26°C (0°C)
○Chance of precipitation: 20% in the morning ｜ 20% in the afternoon
○Fine dust: Moderate in the morning ｜ Moderate in the afternoon

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