Fed Expected to Hold Rates, SK Hynix Earnings in Focus

The US Federal Reserve is set to decide on its benchmark interest rate this week. The Fed will hold its Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on the 28th and 29th to decide whether to adjust the benchmark rate from its current level of 3.5-3.75%. Although Middle East tensions have resurfaced, major price indicators have slowed down for now.

The market is treating a rate freeze as a foregone conclusion, so attention is focused on how the Fed will signal the future direction of its monetary policy. Experts expect Fed Chair Kevin Warsh to maintain vigilance on inflation at the press conference while adhering to his existing stance of determining policy based on future indicators.

Domestically, SK hynix's (000660.KS) second-quarter earnings release is in focus on the 29th. The securities industry forecasts that operating profit will exceed 64 trillion won on expanded supply of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) centered on Big Tech.