Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

According to Yonhapnews, as of August 14, Korean companies have issued 8.9 trillion won in mezzanine financing this year, including convertible bonds (CB), as rising corporate bond issuance costs push firms to seek alternative funding channels. Mezzanine financing, which combines characteristics of

Multiple South Korean semiconductor companies are preparing stock market listings as global AI semiconductor demand drives expanded production facility investment. Fabless design firms Hachitech and Global Technology, along with precision parts and equipment manufacturers Dongwon Parts and

Researchers Kim Jun-seok and Jang Geun-hyeok from Capital Market Institute reported on August 17 that KOSPI Stocks volatility hit 3.6% in H1 2026. The figure more than doubled the 1.4% recorded in the prior year period. The researchers attributed the surge to oil, interest rate, and FX volatility fr

Korean retail investors concentrated purchases on Japanese semiconductor supply chain stocks during August 3-14, according to Korea Securities Depository data released on August 16. Murata Manufacturing led net purchases at $5.319 million, followed by Tokyo Electron at $2.262 million and Arisawa Man

According to Daily Economy on August 16, Hachitech and three other South Korean semiconductor design and precision parts companies are pursuing IPO listings as global AI chip demand drives expansion in production equipment investment. Hachitech, a fabless firm specializing in sensor ICs including g

According to the Capital Markets Research Institute, South Korea's KOSPI daily volatility reached 3.6% in the first half of 2026, more than double the 1.4% recorded in the same period last year, Yonhapnews reported on August 17. The surge was driven by multiple factors: fluctuations in oil prices, i

According to Korean Securities Depository, Korean retail investors concentrated purchases of Japanese semiconductor stocks during Aug 3-14, with semiconductor equipment, materials, and component suppliers accounting for 73% of top 10 net inflows totaling $14.37M. Murata Manufacturing led at $5.32M i

Nine major Korean securities firms earned a combined 943.2 billion won in overseas stock trading commission revenue during Q2 (April-June), marking a 60.7% increase from Q1's 586.8 billion won and representing the sector's highest quarterly performance in this category. The revenue surge occurred

According to researchers at Korea Capital Market Research Institute, enhanced effectiveness of market volatility control mechanisms and expanded participation of long-term institutional investors are needed to stabilize the domestic stock market, according to a report released on

According to nine major South Korean brokerages' half-year reports, foreign stock trading commissions in Q2 (April-June) totaled 944.3 billion Korean won, up 60.7% from Q1, marking a record high. Toss Securities led the surge with a 76.4% quarter-over-quarter increase to 219.3 billion won,

According to Bank of America, July's consumer price index report released on August 12 revealed signs that AI infrastructure expansion is fueling inflation rather than containing it. Computer prices jumped 3.5% for the month, while software prices surged approximately 40% year-over-year. Rising

Korean stock market analysts expect cautious trading during the week of 18-21 as investors assess Federal Reserve policy direction. US July Consumer Price Index rose 3.4% year-over-year, matching expectations, while Producer Price Index showed stable trends, easing inflation concerns. The Federal

Listed companies in South Korea's M&A market face deal disruptions as stock price volatility widens valuation gaps between buyers and sellers. Investment banking industry sources report that recent market cap fluctuations have caused transaction setbacks and structural modifications. When stock pric

Korean securities firms issued 16.9876 trillion won in equity-linked securities through a specific date this year, approaching 2023's full-year total of 21.8156 trillion won. The market structure shifted following regulatory changes in February last year that restricted bank sales of complex

Seven Korean securities and asset management experts analyzed the Korean stock market following July's 22.19% KOSPI decline, the third-largest monthly drop in the index's history. The experts, responding to inquiries from Sidae media, concluded that while the downturn has largely ended, a rapid

South Korean construction stocks surged in August following the government's August 13 announcement of real estate supply measures. The KOSPI construction index jumped 25.15% and the KRX construction index rose 21.72% during the month, according to Korea Exchange data. The government's plan to suppl

According to Herald Economy, stock price volatility in South Korea's listed company mergers and acquisitions market is increasingly disrupting deal structures and negotiations, with valuation disagreements between sellers and buyers becoming a critical deal-breaking variable recently. Defense

According to local media Sidae and seven market experts, South Korea's KOSPI plunged 22.19% in July, marking the third-largest monthly decline since 1997. Experts attributed the crash to concentrated exposure to semiconductors and increased leverage rather than deteriorating corporate

According to Korea Exchange, South Korea's stock exchange will open a new securities market for fractional investment in November 2026. The market will enable retail investors to purchase fractional shares of artworks, real estate, and other alternative assets. Starting in February 2027, the exchan

According to LSEG data, Changhong Memory (688825-CN), China's largest DRAM chip manufacturer, reached a market valuation of $540.5 billion on August 14, ranking 24th globally. The chipmaker surpassed Tencent ($505.8 billion) and trails only Intel ($552.6 billion) among semiconductor and tech