South Korea: South Korea's money supply continued its upward trajectory for the 16th consecutive month in September, as the central bank maintained a restrictive monetary policy stance, according to recent data released by the Bank of Korea (BOK). According to Yonhap News Agency, the country's M2, a crucial indicator of the money supply, reached 4,070.7 trillion won (approximately US$2.89 trillion) in September, marking a 0.2 percent rise from the previous month. This figure has been consistently increasing since June 2023. On an annual basis, the money supply saw a 5.9 percent increase in September, which is slightly lower than the 6.1 percent year-on-year rise recorded in August. The M2 encompasses cash, demand deposits, and other financial instruments that can be easily converted into cash, serving as a comprehensive measure of money supply. In addition to M2, South Korea's liquidity aggregate, the widest measure of money supply, climbed to 7,018.3 trillion won in September, reflecting a 0.7 percent inc rease from the previous month. In an effort to curb inflation, the Bank of Korea implemented seven sequential interest rate hikes from April 2022 to January 2023, maintaining the rate at 3.5 percent through October, the highest in nearly 16 years. However, last month, the central bank reduced its key interest rate by a quarter percentage point to 3.25 percent, amid signs of moderating inflation and weak domestic demand.