According to Yonhap News Agency, data released on Tuesday showed that South Korea’s retail sales in February increased by 13.7% year-on-year due to rising demand during the Spring Festival. Supermarket sales increased by 21% during the period as demand for food increased by 29.5% as consumers prepared for family gatherings. Driven by ready-to-eat food, convenience store sales also increased by 9.4% during the same period. Online platform sales increased 15.7% year-on-year in February, driven by strong food demand growth of 36.2%. However, amid ongoing inflation, consumers scaled back online spending on fashion and sporting goods, which fell 9.5% and 4.3% respectively.

Sri Lanka lowered the benchmark lending rate from 10.00% to 9.50% and the deposit reserve ratio from 9.00% to 8.50%.

The main contract of lithium carbonate fell by 4.00% during the day and is now quoted at 106,750 yuan/ton.

Japan will issue 2.6 trillion yen of 10-year government bonds on April 2.

According to Yonhap News Agency: South Korean President Yin Xiyue promised to significantly expand investment in research and development in the 2025 budget.

Paul Chan Mo-po, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR Government: Hong Kong’s economy is growing steadily.

WTI crude oil stood at $82 per barrel, up 0.25% on the day.

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki: The impact of foreign exchange on the Japanese economy will be appropriately analyzed.

According to The Verge: Microsoft (MSFT.O) announced today that it will appoint Pavan Davuluri as its new head of Windows and Surface.

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki: Japanese Deputy Finance Minister Masato Kanda did not inform me of foreign responses to foreign exchange actions.

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki: Pay close attention to foreign exchange fluctuations with a high sense of urgency.

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki: Excessive foreign exchange fluctuations may have negative impacts.

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki: The important thing is that foreign exchange fluctuations are stable and reflect fundamentals.

Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Takeru Saito: Gasoline price subsidy measures will not continue indefinitely.

According to Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun: Japan is preparing to resume financial support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in April.

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority plans to launch its first financial system stress test in 2025.

According to the Wall Street Journal: WeWork (WE.N) co-founder Adam Neumann submitted an offer of more than $500 million to acquire the bankrupt shared office company.

FISKER (FSR.N): Delisting will result in a default event and will trigger a requirement to repurchase convertible bonds with a coupon rate of 2.50%.

Hamas said it had informed mediators that it would stick to its original position for a comprehensive ceasefire: a withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the return of forcibly displaced people to their homes and a "genuine" prisoner exchange.