South Korea’s CPI (Feb, y/y) came in at 2.0% (vs 2.1% expected; unchanged vs 2.0% prior), while CPI (m/m) slowed to 0.3% (vs 0.4% expected; 0.4% prior). The softer monthly print hints at easing near-term price pressure.
Meanwhile, the current account (Jan) posted a $13.26B surplus (prior $18.70B), still robust even as it narrowed from the previous month.
Source: Statistics Korea; Bank of Korea
Brazil’s trade balance (Feb) posted a $4.21B surplus, improving from $3.82B previously but coming in just under the $4.23B market expectation. The result still signals a solid external buffer, even if it narrowly missed forecasts.
Source: MDIC / SECEX (Brazil Foreign Trade Secretariat)
Mexico’s gross fixed investment stabilized in December, with annual growth at 0.0% (vs -2.8% expected; prior -6.4%), marking a clear improvement from the previous contraction. On a monthly basis, investment rose 0.5% (vs 0.7% expected; prior 0.4%), showing activity is still improving, though a bit less strongly than forecast.
Source: INEGI
Brazil’s unemployment rate (Jan) came in at 5.4%, in line with expectations but up from 5.1% previously. The data suggest the labor market remains relatively firm, though the latest reading points to a slight softening versus the prior month.
Source: IBGE
Turkey’s gross FX reserves edged down to $73.43B from $73.65B, indicating a slight decline in the headline reserve buffer. At the same time, the reported net FX reserves measure rose to 91.78 from 89.18, pointing to some improvement in the underlying reserve position.
Source: Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (CBRT)
South Korea’s FX reserves rose to $427.62B in February, up from $425.91B previously. The increase points to a modest improvement in the country’s external liquidity buffer at a time when regional markets remain volatile.
Source: Bank of Korea
Brazil’s latest foreign exchange flows showed a net +2.071B inflow, up from +1.870B previously—signalling stronger net FX inflows into the country in the latest reporting period and offering a near-term supportive backdrop for BRL liquidity conditions.
Source: Banco Central do Brasil (BCB)
Brazil’s S&P Global Services PMI (Feb) rose to 53.1 from 51.3, signalling a stronger expansion in services activity. The Composite PMI improved to 51.3 from 49.9, moving the broader economy back into expansion territory.
Source: S&P Global
Brazil’s PPI (Jan, m/m) rose +0.34%, accelerating from +0.14% previously—signalling firmer factory-gate price pressure at the start of the year.
Source: IBGE
South Africa’s S&P Global Manufacturing PMI (Feb) printed 50.0, holding at 50.0 previously. The read signals the factory sector is essentially flat—no clear expansion, but also no fresh contraction—suggesting conditions have stabilised.
Source: S&P Global
South Korea’s January activity data delivered a mixed, volatile set of signals: retail sales +2.3% m/m (prior +0.6%) while service sector output was flat at 0.0% m/m (prior +0.5%).
Industrial production surged +7.1% y/y (vs +2.2% expected; prior +1.4%) but fell -1.9% m/m (vs +0.5% expected; prior +1.5%), suggesting strong annual momentum alongside a weaker sequential print.
Source: Statistics Korea
Brazil’s CAGED net payroll jobs (Jan) came in at +112.33K (vs +90.00K expected), a clear upside surprise after the prior -618.16K print—signaling a stronger start to the year for formal job creation.
Source: Brazil Ministry of Labor and Employment (CAGED)