Bank of Japan Raises Policy Rate to 1.25%, the Highest Level Since 1995, in a 7-2 Vote
BOJ raised the policy rate to 1.25% from 1% on Sept 18, 2026, the highest since 1995; the 7-2 vote and mixed signals leave the next move open
News Flash
OFAC Extends the License for the Sale of Lukoil's Foreign Assets Until October 22, 2026
OFAC extended until October 22, 2026 the license for talks on the sale of Lukoil's foreign assets; transactions require separate approval
Lukoil Begins Industrial Development of the Komandirshorskaya Group of Fields in the Nenets Autonomous District
Lukoil began industrial development of the Komandirshorskaya fields in the Nenets Autonomous District after commissioning the Komandirshor OPU (800,000+ t/yr)
Russia's Grain Harvest Reaches 113.5 Million Tonnes by September 8, 2026, Well Above Last Year
Russia has harvested 113.5 mln t of grain by September 8, 2026, well above last year; Deputy PM Dmitry Patrushev outlined a support package incl. rail subsidies
Russia's Industrial Production Growth Slows to 0.4% in July 2026
Russia's industrial output rose 0.4% year on year in July 2026 after 0.7% in June; January–July growth was 0.1%, Rosstat data published by PRIME show
Malaysia's GDP Grows 6.0% in the Second Quarter of 2026 as the Full Year Tracks Around 5%
Malaysia's GDP grew 6.0% y-o-y in 2Q2026, beating the 5.8% advance; after three quarters of outperformance, full-year 2026 tracks around 5%, top of 4%-5%
South Korea's July 2026 Exports Reach $98.89 Billion, Second-Highest Month Ever on Chip Surge
South Korea's July 2026 exports rose 63% y-o-y to $98.89 bln, the second-highest month ever; chips jumped 179% to $41 bln, Yonhap reports
USDA Raises Russia's 2026/27 Wheat Export Forecast by 0.5 Mln Tonnes to 47.5 Million Tonnes
On July 13, 2026 USDA raised Russia's 2026/27 wheat export forecast by 0.5 mln t to 47.5 mln t and the production estimate to 88.5 mln t; EU kept at 31 mln t
South Korea's Monthly Exports Top $100 Billion for the First Time in June 2026 on Chip Boom
South Korea's June 2026 exports hit $102.25 bln, up 70.9% y-o-y — the first month above $100 bln; chips nearly tripled to $44.82 bln, Yonhap data show
Russian GDP Falls 0.2% in Q1 2026, the First Annual Decline in Three Years, Rosstat's Preliminary Estimate Shows
Russia's GDP fell 0.2% y-o-y in Q1 2026 per Rosstat's preliminary estimate, the first annual decline in three years; ministry and CBR cite calendar and winter
Russia's Inbound Tourism Grows 12% to About 5 Million Visitors in 2025
Inbound tourism to Russia reached about 5 million visits in 2025, up 12%, with January–February 2026 at +37%; the 2030 target is 16 million, the ministry says.
Russia's 20 Million Tonne Grain Export Quota Takes Effect on February 15, 2026
Russia's 20 mln t grain export quota took effect on February 15, 2026 for wheat, meslin, barley and corn outside the EAEU; most went to 213 companies
Malaysia's GDP Grows 6.3% in the Fourth Quarter of 2025 as the Full Year Reaches 5.2%, the Highest Since 2022
Malaysia's GDP grew 6.3% y-o-y in the fourth quarter of 2025; the full year reached 5.2%, above the 4.0%-4.8% forecast and the highest since 2022
Russian Airlines Carry 108.9 Million Passengers in 2025 as Domestic Traffic Falls 3.8%
Russian airlines carried 108.9 million passengers in 2025, down 2.5%; domestic traffic fell 3.8% to 81.5 million while international routes grew 1.6%
Russian New-Car Sales Fall 15.6% in 2025 to 1.326 Million Units After Two Years of Recovery
New passenger car sales in Russia fell 15.6% in 2025 to 1.326 million units after two recovery years; December rose 10.6% on pre-hike buying
Russian Finance Ministry Places OFZ Worth 8.05 Trillion Rubles at Face Value in 2025
Russia's Finance Ministry placed OFZ bonds worth 8.05 trillion rubles at face value in 2025; the Q4 plan was 95% met as the key rate fell to 16%
Russia's Domestic Tourism Heads for a Record 97 Million Trips in 2025
Russia's domestic tourism heads for a record ~97 million trips in 2025, up 5.84%, but growth slows from 16% a year earlier, the RST union says.
Russia's November 2025 Inflation Came In at 0.42%, With the Annual Rate Slowing to 6.64% — Below Market Expectations
Rosstat reported November 2025 inflation in Russia at 0.42% after 0.50% in October; the annual rate slowed to 6.64% from 7.71%, below the 6.74% consensus
Freight Loading on the Russian Railways Network Down 1.5% in November 2025 and 5.6% in January–November
RZD network freight loading fell 1.5% y/y in November 2025 to 94.2 mln t and 5.6% y/y in Jan-Nov to 1.0213 bn t; cargo turnover eased 1.4% to 2,269.3 bn t-km
DOM.RF Forecasts About 20% Growth in Russian Mortgage Lending for 2026
DOM.RF sees 2026 mortgage lending growing about 20% if the central bank's baseline forecast holds: 4.8-4.9 trillion rubles, possibly up to 5 trillion
South Korea's Exports Rise for Fifth Straight Month in October 2025 as Chips Set an October Record
South Korea's October 2025 exports rose 3.6% to $59.57 bln — a fifth straight monthly gain; chips jumped 25.4% to an October-record $15.73 bln
Russia's Non-Resource, Non-Energy Exports Grow 6% to $111.4 Billion in Nine Months of 2025
Russia's non-resource, non-energy exports rose 6% to $111.4 bln in 9M 2025: $85.4 bln industrial, $26 bln farm; copper +87% in 7M; 2025 target $149.2 bln
Russia's September 2025 Oil Output at 9.321 Million bpd, 94,000 bpd Under OPEC+ Quota
Russia produced 9.321 mln bpd in September 2025, 94,000 bpd under its OPEC+ quota, after 9.173 mln bpd in August; output may rise, compensation plan intact
Aeroflot CEO Expects Slight 2025 Traffic Decrease for Russian Airlines as Foreign Carriers Grow 10%-20%
At EEF-2025 Aeroflot's CEO expects a slight 2025 traffic decrease for Russian airlines while foreign carriers grow 10%-20%; 7M traffic fell 1.7% to 62.1 mln
Bank of Russia Cuts Key Rate by 200 Basis Points to 18% Per Annum
The Bank of Russia cut the key rate by 200 bp to 18% on July 25, 2025, the second step of the easing cycle, as inflation pressure eases faster than forecast
Bank of Russia Cuts Key Rate by 100 Basis Points to 20% Per Annum
On June 6, 2025 the Bank of Russia cut the key rate by 100 bp to 20% per annum, the first reduction since September 2022; most analysts had expected a hold
National Wealth Fund Liquid Assets Fall to Record-Low 32.1% at Start of 2025
Liquid assets of Russia's National Wealth Fund fell 24% in 2024 to 3.81 trillion rubles, a record-low 32.1% of the fund, the Accounts Chamber assessed
Russia's Preliminary 2024 Grain Harvest Totals 128 Million Tonnes, the Fifth-Best Result in History
Oksana Lut: Russia's preliminary 2024 grain harvest reached 128 mln t, the fifth-best result in history; final data were expected at around 130 mln t
National Wealth Fund shrank by 1.22 trillion rubles in December as gold and yuan covered the budget deficit
Russia's National Wealth Fund fell to 11.88 trillion rubles on January 1, 2025: in December it sold 55.49 billion yuan and 58.96 tonnes of gold for the deficit
FDI Pledges to South Korea Hit Record US$34.5 Billion in 2024 While Arrivals Fall 24.2%
South Korea's 2024 FDI pledges hit a record US$34.5 bn, up 5.7%, while actual arrivals fell 24.2% to US$14.7 bn; manufacturing and chips led the growth
Bank of Russia Defies Market Consensus and Holds Key Rate at 21% on December 20, 2024
On Dec 20, 2024 the Bank of Russia held the key rate at 21% although most analysts priced a hike to 23%; the rate question returns on Feb 14, 2025
Finance Ministry Places OFZ Worth 1 Trillion Rubles in Historic Single-Auction Record
On December 4, 2024 the Finance Ministry placed OFZ-PK 29026 worth 1 trillion rubles against demand of 1.589 trillion — a record single auction
Freight Loading on the Russian Railways Network Falls 4.4% in January–November 2024
Freight loading on the Russian Railways network totalled 1.0821 bn tonnes in Jan–Nov 2024 (−4.4%); cargo turnover fell 5.2% to 2,301.4 bn tariff tonne-km
Bank of Korea Makes Surprise Rate Cut to 3.00% at Second Straight Easing Meeting and Lowers Growth Outlooks
BOK cut the base rate 25 bp to 3.00% on Nov 28, 2024, a surprise second straight cut, and lowered growth forecasts to 2.2% for 2024 and 1.9% for 2025
Russian GDP Grew an Estimated 4.2% in January-September 2024 as the Quarterly Pace Slowed to 3.1%, Rosstat Data Show
Russia's GDP grew an estimated 4.2% y-o-y in January-September 2024 per Rosstat; the quarterly pace slowed from 5.4% in Q1 to 3.1% in Q3
Malaysia's Economy Grows 5.3% in the Third Quarter of 2024, Keeping the Full Year on Course for 4.8%–5.3%
Malaysia's GDP grew 5.3% y-o-y in 3Q2024 (2Q2024: 5.9%) on strong investment and exports; the full year stays on course for the official 4.8%-5.3% range
South Korea's ICT Exports Rise 22 Percent to $20.8 Billion in October 2024 on HBM and AI Chip Demand
South Korea's October 2024 ICT exports rose 22% to $20.8 bln, a 12th straight monthly gain; chips jumped 39.9% to $12.6 bln on HBM and AI server demand
Russia's Trade Surplus Grows 11.6% to $114.9 Billion in Nine Months of 2024 as Imports Contract 4.9%
Russia's Jan–Sep 2024 trade surplus rose 11.6% to $114.9 bln as imports fell 4.9% to $203.3 bln while exports edged up 0.4% to $318.2 bln, FCS data show
Bank Negara Malaysia Holds OPR at 3% at Final 2024 Meeting, Sees US Election Adding Ringgit Volatility
BNM held the OPR at 3% on Nov 6, 2024 at its sixth and final 2024 MPC meeting; the ringgit stays externally driven, and the US election may add volatility
South Korea's Exports Rise for 13th Straight Month in October 2024 on Chip and Car Records
South Korea's October 2024 exports rose 4.6% to $57.5 bln, a 13th straight monthly gain; chips jumped 40.3% to an October-record $12.5 bln on AI server demand
Russia's Federal Budget Deficit Narrows to 331 Billion Rubles in January-August 2024 as August Posts a 767 Billion Ruble Surplus
Russia's federal budget deficit for Jan-Aug 2024 narrowed to 331 bln rubles (0.2% of GDP) after a 767 bln ruble August surplus, per Finance Ministry data
Finance Ministry Places OFZ Worth 505.5 Billion Rubles in Q2 2024, Raises Q3 Plan to 1.5 Trillion
In Q2 2024 Russia's Finance Ministry placed OFZ worth 505.5 billion rubles, 50.55% of the plan; demand shifted to floaters, Q3 plan raised to 1.5 trillion
Russia to Cut Oil Output to 8.979 Million bpd in June 2024 Under OPEC+ Obligations
Russia's June 2024 OPEC+ target is 8.979 mln bpd, equal to Saudi Arabia's quota; April overproduction of 192,000 bpd implies ~87,000 bpd compensation
Bank of Japan Scraps the World's Last Negative Rates in First Hike in 17 Years, Lifting the Rate to 0% to 0.1%
On March 19, 2024 the BOJ scrapped the world's last negative rate policy, lifting the short-term rate to 0-0.1% from -0.1% in its first hike in 17 years
Russia's 24 Million Tonne Grain Export Quota Takes Effect on February 15, 2024 With a Primary and Supplementary Split
Russia's 24 mln t grain export quota took effect on February 15, 2024 outside the EAEU; primary part went to 261 companies, a 4 mln t addition proposed