Gate Crypto Flash News and Market Updates

According to iM Securities, the firm raised its target price for Samsung SDI on September 21 from 590,000 Korean won to 800,000 Korean won while maintaining a 'buy' rating. The upgrade reflects ESS (energy storage systems) expansion beyond renewable energy storage into AI data center power infrastructure. Third-quarter revenue is forecast at 4.1 trillion Korean won, up 33% year-over-year, with operating profit of 285 billion won expected to swing to profitability, significantly exceeding market

On September 18, Evercore ISI analyst Amit Daryanani raised Apple's target price from $365 to $380, citing stronger-than-expected iPhone replacement momentum driven by new premium models. According to CNBC, Daryanani expects a combination of higher average selling prices, increased premium model share, and memory upgrades to support an overall price increase of 20% or more. iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models, priced $100 higher than predecessors, began shipping this month. In Evercore ISI's purcha

According to Yuanta Securities on September 21, KT&G reported accelerating overseas cigarette business growth in Kazakhstan through expanded distribution and local production localization. The company's market share in Kazakhstan reached 9.6% in 2025, up from 5.1% in 2022, while its share in the 100mm ultra-slim segment climbed to 26%, with the overall segment expanding 20.6% between 2021 and 2025 despite the total market declining 13%. Local production operations, which began commercial product

According to SK Securities research released on September 21, the KOSDAQ has historically underperformed the KOSPI after Chuseok holidays through year-end, with data showing KOSDAQ outperformed only five times over the past two decades. However, analyst Na Seung-doo noted that 2026 could present a reversal opportunity as semiconductor equipment and robotics attract foreign investor interest amid weakening large-cap momentum. The key variable is whether government's KOSDAQ activation policy can b

According to Meritz Securities on September 21, LG Innotek's third-quarter operating profit is forecast to decline 26.3% year-over-year to 151.1 billion won, representing a 51.8% miss versus market consensus of 311.2 billion won. The brokerage cut its Q3 operating profit estimate by 53.6% from prior guidance. Meritz attributed the downward revision primarily to won strength—as camera module inventory purchased at higher exchange rates flows through cost of goods sold while sales reflect lower cu

According to Yonhapnews, South Korea's KOSPI index rose 2.66% to 6,894.23 points on September 18, marking foreign investors' return to net buying after eight consecutive trading days of selling. The uptick was driven by easing geopolitical tensions and declining oil prices ahead of the U.S.-China summit scheduled for September 24. Crude oil futures fell sharply, with WTI October contracts dropping 1.58% to $100.30 per barrel, while U.S. semiconductor stocks surged, lifting the Philadelphia Semic

According to Yuanta Securities, KT&G's Kazakhstan operations achieved 9.6% market share by 2025, up from 5.1% in 2022, while local production that started in March 2025 cut manufacturing costs by 30% versus South Korea. The company's 100mm ultra-slim cigarette segment holds 26% share in the growing product category, which expanded to 32% of the total market despite overall market contraction. Operating cash flow for the first half of 2026 increased by 378.4 billion Korean won year-over-year to 7

According to Meritz Securities analyst Yang Seung-soo on Sept 21, LG Innotek's third-quarter operating profit is expected to decline 26.3% year-over-year to 150.1 billion won, missing market consensus of 311.2 billion won by 51.8%. Revenue is projected at 5.70 trillion won, up 6.2% but 10.9% below prior estimates. The shortfall stems primarily from won strength, as the camera module business faces timing gaps between material purchases and product shipments, and delayed new product deliveries du

According to Evercore ISI and Wall Street analysts, Japan's central bank raised its benchmark rate by 0.25 basis points on Friday but signaled a dovish tone, with two board members voting against the hike. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda stated the bank would act preemptively on inflation while avoiding haste, disappointing market expectations for accelerated tightening. The muted messaging failed to support the yen, prompting concerns that the BOJ may sell U.S. Treasuries to defend the currency. U.S. 1

According to Financial News, Doosan's board of directors approved on September 17 the cancellation of 2.568 million treasury shares, representing 12.18% of issued shares, with execution scheduled for October 2. The company simultaneously approved 968.4 billion won in additional investment for its electronics division, allocating 421 billion won domestically and 547.4 billion won to its Changsha subsidiary in China. The investment period extends through December 2028, with the expansion targeting

According to overseas brokers, USD/KRW 1-month NDF rose to 1,386.80 won (MID) on Sept 18, local time, up 3.95 won from Seoul's previous close of 1,383.30 won when accounting for the 1-month swap point of negative 0.45 won. Bid was quoted at 1,386.60 won and ask at 1,387.00 won. The Bank of Japan raised its policy rate by 25 basis points to 1.25% on Sept 17, but the decision was largely priced in by markets. Notably, 2 of 9 policy board members opposed the hike, highlighting uncertainty over the

According to DailyAn, Meritz Securities' application for commercial paper issuance business authorization is set for final review at the Financial Services Commission's regular meeting on September 23. The approval comes after Samsung Securities obtained authorization on September 9, confirming the policy direction to expand the number of issuers in the market. Meritz has approximately 8.35 trillion Korean won in capital, ranking fourth among domestic securities firms. If approved, the company c

According to IBK Investment & Securities, Alteogen received a new 'Buy' rating on September 21 with a target price of 400,000 Korean won. The research analyst cited expanding demand from global pharmaceutical companies converting intravenous drugs to subcutaneous (SC) formulations. ALT-B4, Alteogen's core enzyme technology, enables the conversion and benefits from long-term patent protection through 2043, as competitors' related patents expire from 2027 onward. Keytruda SC (Keytruda Subcutaneous

According to South Korea's financial investment industry, as of September 20, the location criteria for data center development have fundamentally shifted from geographic proximity to power supply stability and tenant security. Power grid saturation in the Seoul metropolitan area has become a critical barrier, with 53.4% of power system impact assessments (279 out of 522 applications as of March 2026) receiving "no supply" determinations. Consequently, developers are increasingly focusing on reg

According to Wells Fargo, on September 18, analyst Stephen Kahale downgraded Netflix to Underweight from Equal Weight and cut the price target to $57 from $80. The downgrade reflects a 1.6-hour decline in daily average viewing time per subscriber in the first half of 2026, representing an 8% decrease compared to the same period in 2023. Kahale noted that Netflix requires major breakout hits to restore stock momentum amid intensifying competition from platforms like Disney+ and Hulu.

According to IBK Investment Securities, the firm downgraded Kakao's target price from 73,000 Korean won to 53,000 won on September 21, citing uncertainty over the execution of the company's spinoff plan. The brokerage maintained its buy rating despite the 27% price target cut. Market sentiment has turned negative since Kakao announced the spinoff in August, with the stock declining over 6% as investors express concerns about the viability of the restructuring.

According to Business Insider, investor Steve Eisman, known for accurately predicting the 2008 housing crisis, recently challenged claims by leading AI laboratories that they are slowing development for safety reasons. Eisman argues these companies lack competitive moats and are manufacturing crisis fears to prompt government regulation they can then control, creating a dual monopoly dominated by OpenAI and Anthropic. He characterized OpenAI and Anthropic as "Achilles heels" in the AI supply cha

According to Wind data, China's central bank will face 272 billion yuan in 7-day reverse repo maturities this week (Sept 21-24). Experts noted that the People's Bank of China has maintained flexible and precise liquidity provision with sufficient injection capacity to offset major disruptions. The market is expected to maintain stable funding conditions through month-end and quarter-end, with interest rates likely to remain stable.

Tornado Cash's TORN token fell 11.9% in the past hour to $6.07, down from $6.89, as of today (September 20). The token posted a 24-hour loss of 2.59%, with trading volume of $112,165 and market cap of approximately $29 million. The sharp price movement has caught traders' attention amid mixed cryptocurrency market signals, though no specific catalyst has been confirmed. Key support is near $6.06, while resistance sits at $6.89.

According to Odaily, Russia's central bank released a draft framework on September 18 to regulate banks' cryptocurrency asset risks through two ratios—N31 and N32—measuring exposures against individual credit institutions' capital and consolidated banking group capital. The framework covers direct investments, crypto-linked derivatives, loans, bonds, and repurchase agreements whose value depends on crypto assets. Customer custodied assets held by bank-affiliated digital custody entities incur lo