1.South Korea's health ministry said Thursday that it will have hospitals recruit additional trainee doctors later this month. The announcement came as only 104 candidates applied for trainee doctor programs starting in September, while local hospitals sought to find trainees for seven-thousand-645 new positions.

2.According to data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Thursday, South Korea's exports extended on-year gains for the tenth straight month in July on the back of the robust performance of semiconductors. Outbound shipments rose 13.9 percent on-year to 57-point-4 billion U.S. dollars last month.

3.The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday held its benchmark lending rate steady in the 5.25 to 5.50 percent range for an eighth consecutive time, while its chair said a rate cut could be "on the table" as soon as September if conditions are met.