Gate Insights and Crypto Market Analysis

LX International's operating profit for Q2 is forecast to more than double compared to the same period last year, driven by rising coal prices in its core business. According to the average forecast from six securities firms compiled by Yonhap Infomax on the 21st, LX International's Q2 operating pro

Korean securities firms have experienced a sharp decline in analyst headcount, dropping from 1,575 in 2010 to approximately 1,000 in recent years, while individual workload surged from 15 reports annually to over 20. The exodus stems from stagnant compensation and the reclassification of research ce

Samyang Foods and Nongshim are forecast to achieve earnings surprises in Q2 2026, according to securities firm analyses compiled on May 21. Both Korean instant noodle manufacturers are expected to exceed market expectations due to overseas sales expansion and favorable exchange rate effects.

Julia Herman, global market strategist at New York Life Investments, forecasted on the 20th (local time) via Business Insider that 'chipflation' — surging prices for AI-related logic and memory chips — will become the next major challenge testing the AI investment market. Herman stated that

Metaplanet’s subsidiary, Bitcoin Japan, announced on July 17 that it has approved a convertible bond transaction with the EVO Fund. It plans to raise 9.66 billion yen (about $59.5 million) and intends to make its first bitcoin purchase with more than 662 million yen (about $4 million). Its parent company, Metaplanet, is a Japan-listed public company. Bitcoin Japan Funding Deal: EVO Fund Convertible Bonds and First Bitcoin Purchase Plan Bitcoin Japan is a publicly traded company headquartered in

South Korean bond markets maintained a cautious stance on July 21, closely monitoring Middle East-related headlines as Houthi rebels declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia. The market weakness centered on short- to medium-term bonds, driven by heightened inflation concerns and

Daol Investment & Securities issued 'buy' ratings for HD Hyundai Marine Engine and Hanwha Engine, citing first-half order intake that approached or exceeded each company's full-year 2024 totals. The brokerage attributed the surge to rising Chinese shipbuilding market share, which generated

Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang signed Decree No. 284/2026/ND-CP on July 16, establishing administrative penalties for illegal crypto-asset activities. The decree takes effect on Sept. 1 and applies during Vietnam’s five-year cryptocurrency market pilot program. Individual investors who use platforms not licensed by the Ministry of Finance will face fines of 30 million to 50 million Vietnamese dong (about $1,140 to $1,900). Full Fine Structure Under Vietnam’s Decree No. 284/2026

HMM is forecast to achieve its highest quarterly performance in five quarters during Q2 2026, with operating profit expected to reach 417.4 billion won, according to a consensus survey of five major securities firms conducted by Yonhap Infomax on the 21st. The shipping company's Q2 revenue is

DSRV, a blockchain infrastructure company, signed a staking infrastructure supply contract with SBI VC Trade, a digital asset exchange under Japan's SBI Group, on the 21st. The partnership enables DSRV to support SBI VC Trade's staking service operations. Japan maintains strict regulatory

Bitcoin (BTC) rose to around $65,510 on July 21, while tech stocks faced simultaneous pressure. Kobeissi Letter, citing data from Goldman Sachs, said that over the past 8 weeks, hedge funds sold tech stocks in 6 of those weeks, pushing total net selling over the past 8 weeks to at least the highest level in 10 years. An Iranian ballistic missile hit U.S. military residential facilities at the Muwaffaq Salti Airbase in Jordan, killing 2 U.S. personnel. Bitcoin repeatedly holds the $65,000 key thr

The KOSDAQ index plunged to the 730s on May 21, reversing an early gain as foreign and institutional investors sold heavily. The index opened at 750.07, up 0.43 points (0.06%), but by 9:10 AM had fallen to 731.88, down 17.76 points (2.37%) from the previous session. Foreign investors net sold 26.9 b

Korea Investment Corporation (KIC), managing assets under management (AUM) of $243.2 billion as of June, will receive a new strategic investment account to enable domestic corporate investments. The government recently announced this mandate shift, marking the first domestic investment pathway

The US government is considering restrictions on Chinese AI models, potentially including a de facto ban, according to an Axios report published Monday. The deliberations follow the release of Kimi K3, an open-source model by Chinese company Dark Side of the Moon (月之暗面) on Thursday, which

Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore recommended on the 20th (local time) that investors buy memory semiconductor stocks during recent price corrections, forecasting supply shortages will persist through 2028. Moore stated the current memory semiconductor cycle is driven exclusively by strong AI

Monami and Hansung Enterprise led sharp declines among small-cap Korean stocks on the morning of the 21st, following a recent surge driven by 'patriotic buying' sentiment. At 9:18 AM on the Korea Exchange, stationery company Monami hit the daily lower limit at 2,615 won, down 1,115 won or 29.89%

IREN raised its year-end artificial intelligence (AI) Cloud annualized run-rate revenue target to more than $4 billion, up from $3.7 billion, as demand for computing capacity continues to outpace supply. The Nasdaq-listed company secured about 85% of the new target through signed agreements, with re

UBS identified Micron and Broadcom as attractive AI semiconductor stocks following a sector correction since June 22. The investment bank stated that fundamentals have strengthened despite share price declines, using its proprietary valuation model to select companies with improving cash flow

Hankook Tire & Technology received a target price increase to 120,000 won from Meritz Securities on the 21st, marking a level more than 70% above the stock's closing price of 70,100 won and representing the highest target among brokerage coverage. The upward revision follows the company's

Korean retail investors purchased $1.9477 billion in US stocks from January 1 to 17, according to Korea Securities Depository data released on January 21. This represents a more than threefold increase from the previous month's net purchases of $632.95 million. The shift occurred as KOSPI dropped fr