BOK Scraps Easing ‘Stance’ While Staying Open to Possible Cut

South Korea’s central bank kept its benchmark rate unchanged and removed a reference in its statement to maintaining a rate-cut stance, while also allowing that it would remain open to a possible reduction in borrowing costs.

The Bank of Korea held its seven-day repurchase rate at 2.5% for a fourth straight meeting on Thursday. The decision matched expectations from 21 of 24 economists surveyed by Bloomberg, with the other three predicting a quarter-point cut. The move extends a pause that began in July after four reductions since October 2024.