Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

According to Reuters, Samsung raised prices for advanced chip manufacturing services by up to 15% in July, driven by surging AI demand that has left TSMC fully booked and pushed major customers toward rival chipmakers. Samsung increased prices for its 4-nanometer SF4 and 5-nanometer SF5 processes by

Traders said Russian western port seaborne crude oil exports reached 2.3 million barrels per day in early August, down 15% from initial plans due to disruptions at Novorossiysk port.

According to Marex's announcement on August 18, the financial-services company agreed a multi-year principal partnership with Nottingham Forest, securing front-of-shirt rights on men's and women's kits and netball dresses from the 2026/27 season onward. The deal comes as Premier League clubs

According to MSX.COM data, U.S. pre-market AI stocks fell on August 19, with Marvell Technology (MRVL) down 2.18%, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) declining 1.07%, Alphabet (GOOGL) falling 0.45%, and Micron Technology (MU) down 1.00%.

According to Gate trading data, Moderna (MRNA) surged 30% in pre-market trading on August 19, 2026.

According to Jin10 Data, Iran's parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Committee member Reza'i stated on August 19 that Iran has full responsibility for the management, supervision, and inspection of the Strait of Hormuz, under unified oversight by the Armed Forces General Staff. He

On August 18, 2026, OpenAI reported its second-quarter financial results to investors. The company's quarterly revenue reached $6.7 billion, up 18% from $5.7 billion in the first quarter. For the vast majority of startups, nearly $7 billion in quarterly revenue would already represent an astonishing scale. However, given OpenAI's current valuation, fundraising plans, and IPO expectations, this growth rate fell short of market expectations. Even more unsettling for investors was the continued exp

According to But Bin, the founder of Oriental Harbour investment firm, on Aug 18 evening, he plans to increase his position in SpaceX. On social media, But Bin stated: "I plan to buy SpaceX today, marking the beginning of my strategic deployment in this target." SpaceX, which went public in the U.S.

Broadcom emerged as the top long-term stock pick over SanDisk and Micron in an analysis published by investment media outlet Motley Fool on August 19 (local time), citing Morgan Stanley-origin analyst Manali Pradan's comparison of the three semiconductor companies alongside SpaceX. The

According to Motley Fool citing Morgan Stanley analyst Manali Patel, Broadcom emerged as a top long-term AI investment candidate on August 19 despite trailing near-term stock gains of competitors. In fiscal Q2 2026 ended in August, Broadcom reported revenue of $22.2 billion, up 48% year-over-year,

Trading Technologies plans to connect its institutional trading platform to OG.com in the fourth quarter of 2026, adding a second announced prediction-market venue after Kalshi. The same project will support Crypto.com's new margin-based crypto futures when those contracts launch, bringing event con

US-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded their largest weekly outflows since late June, with 13 funds tracked by Bloomberg shedding a net $389.7 million in the week of August 10. The reversal came immediately after the same funds pulled in $853.5 million the prior week, marking the

According to Kpler shipping data, over 80% of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz chose Oman-side shipping lanes in the past two weeks, a marked shift from nearly zero usage one month ago. The route, authorized by the UN but previously opposed by Iran, signals a change in maritime traffic

Lowe's reported mixed second fiscal quarter results on Wednesday as the home improvement retailer cited 'pressure' in spending on projects. The company updated its full-year outlook to the bottom end of prior guidance, now expecting total sales of $92 billion and adjusted earnings per share of $12.2

According to Bloomberg, in the week of August 10, the 13 US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded net outflows of $389.7 million, marking the largest weekly redemptions since late June. This sharp reversal followed the previous week's net inflows of $853.5 million, the strongest weekly haul since

According to its earnings report, Lowe's on Wednesday lowered its full-year guidance, now expecting $92 billion in total sales compared to $92-94 billion previously, as the home improvement retailer cited pressure in consumer spending on projects. The company also adjusted its comparable sales guid

According to UAnalyze, FTAI Aviation's joint venture J&F Power Systems signed a five-year supply agreement with a major U.S. hyperscaler in July 2026, with an initial order valued at $1.465 billion. The deal covers delivery of Mod-1 modular power generation units, each providing 25MW of capacity, wi

According to analysis by QB Asset Management CEO Hong-rae Cho, a 20-year study (2005-2025) of U.S. and South Korean stock markets shows that a buy-and-hold strategy significantly outperforms market timing. Investors who never sold and maintained positions earned average annual returns of 9% in the U

USD/JPY fell below the 159 level today, declining 0.37% during the session. The pair retreated from stronger levels amid intraday trading.

Kim Dong-seon, KB Securities Yongsan branch manager, recently translated 'The Psychology of the Stock Market,' a 1912 investment classic by George Charles Selden, for Korean investors. Kim identifies impatience as the primary obstacle to successful investing, explaining that it transforms into