Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

South Korea's imports in September rose 26.7% year-over-year, accelerating from 19% in the prior period, according to trade data.

Growth Research issued a report on the 21st analyzing the shift from Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix concentration toward small and mid-cap stocks in the Korean market. The two companies accounted for 78.3% of KOSPI gains in the first half, driven by memory price surges, but price increases have

Hana Securities maintains a 'Buy' rating and a target price of 365,000 won for SK Gas, forecasting a 'lower first half, higher second half' earnings pattern for this year. Analyst Yoo Jae-seon attributes the expected second-half recovery to the partial conversion of second-quarter LPG derivative

According to Yonhapinfomax, on September 21, AIA Life Insurance decided to skip its interim dividend payment in 2026 following a decline in its solvency margin ratio (K-ICS). The K-ICS ratio fell to 176.4% in the first half of 2026 from 204.6% at the end of 2025, though it remained above the

Meritz Securities raised its target price for NHN stocks to 80,000 won from 64,000 won while maintaining a 'buy' rating, citing steep revenue growth expected from national project contracts starting in the fourth quarter. Analyst Lee Hyo-jin stated on the 21st that NHN's third-quarter consolidated r

According to CNBC, on September 20, AI infrastructure cloud service provider Nscale submitted an S-1 registration statement to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a New York Stock Exchange listing, with stock ticker NSCL. The company reported H1 2026 revenue of $140.6 million,

Hana Securities maintained a 'Buy' rating and 200,000 won target price for SK Innovation stocks on the 21st, citing the company's subsidiary SK E&S's LNG supply chain that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz as a key competitive advantage. The securities firm forecasts SK Innovation will achieve

Korea Investment & Securities maintained a Buy rating and 390,000 KRW target price for NC on the 21st, citing the upcoming global launch of Aion 2 in the second half of the year as a potential inflection point for the company. Analyst 정호윤 stated that NC's stock price underwent significant

According to Kim Dae-jun, analyst at Korea Investment & Securities, on September 21, maintaining stock positions ahead of the Chuseok holiday (Sept. 24-25) may be advantageous as domestic market risks remain contained. The VKOSPI volatility index has fallen significantly to 44% from this year's

According to GrowthResearch, a Seoul-based independent research firm, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix accounted for 78.3% of KOSPI index gains in the first half of 2026. The concentration is easing as memory chip price growth slowed in the second half, with the market shifting from price-driven to

According to Hana Securities, SK Gas is expected to show stronger earnings in the second half of 2026, with weaker performance in the first half, analyst Yu Jae-seon said on September 21. The firm maintained its buy rating and 365,000 KRW target price. The forecast reflects anticipated

According to Meritz Securities on September 21, the South Korean firm upgraded NHN's target stock price from 64,000 won to 80,000 won, citing strong projected growth in the third and fourth quarters. The brokerage forecasts NHN's Q3 consolidated revenue at 766.8 billion won with operating

Korea Investment Securities maintained a 'Buy' rating and 390,000 KRW target price for NC on September 21, ahead of the company's Aion 2 global launch in the second half of 2026. Analyst Jung Ho-yoon said the launch represents a 'turning point' for the company, with subsequent MMORPG titles

According to Hana Securities on September 21, SK Innovation is expected to achieve record annual operating profit of 11.8 trillion won in 2026, driven by its subsidiary SK E&S's LNG trading advantage and power business. The brokerage maintained its buy rating with a 200,000 won price target. Hana Se

KIWOOM Asset Management executed a regular rebalancing of its KIWOOM US S&P500 Momentum ETF in September, replacing 54 out of 99 constituent stocks. The portfolio restructuring represented a 54.5% turnover in holdings. The rebalancing followed the ETF's methodology of selecting the top 100 stocks

According to Futures Daily, as of September 19, shipping futures reached record highs across six major contracts excluding EC2703, while spot shipping rates continued their downward correction. The average spot rate for the 39th week stood at approximately $3,270 per forty-foot container, with

BMO Capital Markets upgraded MACOM Technology Solutions (NASDAQ: MTSI) from Market Perform to Outperform on 18일 (US local time), while maintaining its price target at $335. Analyst Harsh Kumar cited the stock's improved valuation appeal, noting its Forward P/E ratio declined from the late 50s in

iM Securities maintained its 550,000 won target price and 'buy' rating for LG Energy Solution on the 21st, stating the company's performance improvement continues despite the won-dollar exchange rate decline. Analyst Park Jung-ha noted LG Energy Solution's Q3 operating profit reached 369 billion won

According to Financial Times, over the next year, Wall Street banks forecast the U.S. will issue approximately $1 trillion in short-term debt to meet growing government financing needs as borrowing costs rise. Bank of America projects about $1.07 trillion in new borrowing through September 2027,

Meritz Securities on the 21st lowered its target price for Lotte Tourism Development to 25,000 won from 30,000 won, citing concerns over cost burdens related to the Tourism Promotion Development Fund that have pressured the stock. The brokerage maintained its 'buy' investment rating, forecasting the