South Korea stocks rise as central bank keeps rates steady

South Korean stocks are on an upward trajectory, as the central bank held rates for the seventh straight time. It held its benchmark policy rate at 3.5%, saying that although inflation in the country has been elevated, its is still projected to slow down. Bad news on the Chinese front though, as China's factory activity shrank for a second straight month in November, while non-manufacturing activity hit yet another new low for the year.