South Korea’s mergers and acquisitions market reached 62.053 trillion won through the third quarter, exceeding last year’s full-year total of 61.3989 trillion won. Competition for AI infrastructure, including data centers, and acquisition-financing rates of around 7% on a senior debt basis encouraged buyers and sellers to close transactions before borrowing costs or lending conditions worsened. Third-quarter completed deals totaled 108 worth 14.9657 trillion won, while 50 signed transactions in progress were valued at 27.0437 trillion won. Separately, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won is selling a 2.3% stake in SK for 944 billion won to fund a divorce settlement with Noh Soh-yeong, director of Art Center Nabi. The briefing also highlighted China’s halt to oil-product exports, Russia’s fuel-export restrictions and pressure on the United States over potential diesel-export curbs.