EghtesadOnline: After three years of losses against the dollar, South Korea’s won didn’t begin 2017 looking like a winner -- with the U.S. raising interest rates and tensions rising with its nuclear-armed neighbor.

EghtesadOnline: Japanese and South Korean shares fell while the won currency came under pressure on Friday, as rising tensions in the Korean peninsula dented confidence in the world's economy.

EghtesadOnline: Political risks rippled across foreign-exchange markets with the pound, Turkish lira and South Korean won leading declines, while gold rose on haven demand and Chinese buying. Stocks dropped with oil.

EghtesadOnline: Emerging-market stocks and currencies rallied after a slew of weak U.S. economic data quelled speculation the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates this month. European equities held near an eight-month high.