SOUTH KOREA'S BENCHMARK STOCK INDEX RISES AS MUCH AS 1.1% TO 6,257.36, HIGHEST SINCE FEBRUARY 27

China left benchmark lending rates unchanged for an 11th month as policymakers assess Middle East war risks against resilient domestic growth and easing deflation. The People’s Bank of China kept the one-year LPR at 3.0% and five-year at 3.5%. Q1 GDP grew 5%, up from 4.5%, near the top of the annual 4.5%–5% target. Factory-gate prices rose 0.5% in March, while CPI peaked at 1.3% in February before easing to 1%. Strong growth and rising inflation reduce pressure for stimulus, supporting a wait-and-see stance.

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