BOK rate hold drives won strengthening against dollar.
Context
What happened: The South Korean won strengthened against the U.S. dollar after the Bank of Korea held its key rate unchanged but hinted at further tightening.
Key numbers: Won at 1,324.2 per dollar at 3:30 p.m., up 1 won from the prior session close. Key rate held at 3 percent. Fifth straight session at highest level since Oct. 2, 2024. Won appreciated to around 1,320 per dollar from around 1,560 in June.
Why it matters: The BOK decision was widely expected, and Gov. Shin Hyun-song said the won is still undervalued in terms of effective exchange rate.