South Korea's headline inflation eased at a sharper-than-expected pace to a 43-month low in September, bolstering the case for a rate cut by the central bank. The benchmark consumer-price index rose 1.

She received the handbag and gifts but they did not relate to her official duties and no favours were given in return, prosecutors concluded Prosecutors in South Korea have decided not to charge first lady Kim Keon-hee over allegations of inappropriately accepting gifts last year,

Korea Zinc said it was making a public tender offer to buy an up to 16% stake in the company for 2.7 trillion won ($2.0 billion), seeking to fend off what it has termed as a hostile takeover attempt on the world's biggest refined zinc producer.