Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

According to multiple brokerages on August 19, South Korean semiconductor substrate manufacturer Isupetax's 2027 operating profit estimate was raised 11.9% to 551 billion Korean won from 460.2 billion won. Meritz Securities, Kiwoom Securities, and Daol Investment upgraded forecasts following

Three companies that listed on the KOSDAQ in August—Delicious, K&S INC, and Ingeniaterapeutics—declined 2.18%, 3.17%, and 7% respectively as of 10:50 AM on the 19th, according to Korea Exchange data. Delicious closed below its IPO price on its first trading day, an unusual outcome in South Korea's p

According to Korea Exchange, three companies newly listed on South Korea's Kosdaq market in August—Delicious, KNS Inc., and Ingeniate Therapeutics—traded down 2.18%, 3.17%, and 7%, respectively, as of 10:50 a.m. on August 19. Delicious marked an unusual case by closing below its public offering

According to ChainCatcher, three independent units of Ant Group—Ant International, OceanBase, and Ant Tech Finance—are raising external capital. Ant International completed a Series A round of approximately $1.2 billion in July, while OceanBase is seeking 2 billion to 3 billion yuan for its Series A

According to BlockBeats citing Bitget data, South Korean equities fell sharply on August 19, extending losses from the U.S. market. Hynix (HY) dropped over 8%, while Samsung fell more than 7%. Corresponding leveraged ETFs tracked the decline: the Naver Hynix 2x Long ETF fell 14.63%, and the Naver S

Gold surged 10% this month as global long-term government bond yields climbed to multi-decade highs, while Bitcoin showed nine consecutive months of relative weakness despite its reputation as a fiscal hedge. US 30-year Treasury yields reached 5.33%, the highest level since 2007, as reported by

The US government's debt servicing costs have surged to $1.2 trillion on an annualized basis, exceeding defense spending, according to a report by Axios on the 19th. The rising interest burden stems from maturing low-rate bonds being replaced with newly issued debt at current higher rates, forcing m

Korean retail investors have returned to US stock investments in August, with holdings surpassing $190 billion as of August 17 according to Korea Securities Depository data. The renewed interest follows a period of domestic market focus, driven by ongoing volatility in the KOSPI index that has

According to Axios, U.S. annual interest costs on national debt reached $1.2 trillion as of August 19, surpassing defense spending. This surge stems from lower-rate bonds issued in the past maturing and being refinanced at current higher rates, diverting more government revenue toward debt

According to Korea Securities Depository, as of August 17, South Korean retail investors' U.S. stock holdings surged past $190.2 billion, up $18 billion in August alone. The holdings had fallen to $171.5 billion in late July but recovered sharply this month as domestic investors sought

According to Guru Club, RBA Deputy Governor Hauser said today, Aug 19, that the central bank may raise interest rates again if inflation does not decline. Hauser cited elevated inflation and rising upside risks, noting that monetary policy must reduce aggregate demand. He added that while the

According to Bank of America's August survey released Tuesday, Aug 19, global fund managers' bullish sentiment reached a four-year high among 180 asset management representatives overseeing over $500 billion in assets. The survey shows cash allocations among fund managers have dropped to 3.5%,

Top 1% return investors at Mirae Asset Securities net-bought SK Hynix and net-sold Samsung Electronics on the morning of the 19th, according to trading data released by the brokerage. SK Hynix shares traded at 1.53 million won, down 126,000 won (7.58%) from the previous session, while Samsung Electr

A South Korean shareholder activist group demanded on the 19th that Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix void their profit-linked performance bonus agreements and return a combined 270 trillion won or more to shareholders, threatening legal action against all directors if the companies refuse.

Klarna Group plc (KLAR) stocks gained more than 1% in the overnight session late Tuesday after management highlighted strong US growth during the earnings call. The company delivered gross merchandise value of $7.9 billion in the US, up 27% year-on-year, while transaction margin dollars

Three Korean securities firms issued target price adjustments for Robotis, ISU Petasys, and GS E&C on the morning of August 19, according to a report summarizing analyst coverage. Samsung Securities raised Robotis' target price to 350,000 won, citing 180% year-over-year growth in China sales

On late Tuesday overnight, Klarna shares gained more than 1% after hours, rebounding from a 23% plunge at close, as the company highlighted strong U.S. performance during its earnings call. Gross merchandise value in the U.S. reached $7.9 billion in Q2, up 27% year-over-year, while transaction

According to Yonhapnews, on August 19, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix dropped 6.98% and 8.12% respectively on the KOSPI, trading at 249,500 KRW and 1,526,000 KRW as of 11:18 AM. The selloff was triggered by Middle East escalation, including a ship-attack incident in the Strait of Hormuz, which

According to Samsung Securities on August 19, Robotis' target price was raised to 350,000 KRW from 320,000 KRW, reflecting strong performance driven by surging Chinese humanoid robot demand. The robotics actuator maker's Chinese sales grew 180% year-over-year in the first half of 2026,

According to South China Morning Post, Unitree Robotics, a Hangzhou-based humanoid robot maker, surged 629% from its IPO price on August 19, opening at 1,100 yuan (US$160) on Shanghai's Star Market. The stock's debut valued the company at approximately 445 billion yuan (US$66.1 billion) before