Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

According to Korea Exchange and Korea Listed Companies Association, KOSPI-listed companies' revenues surpassed 2,000 trillion won for the first time on record in the first half of 2026 (announced Aug 19). Operating profit more than tripled year-over-year, driven by strong performance from Samsung

According to Herald Economy, South Korean individual investors' custodial holdings in U.S. stocks rebounded to $190 billion in August as domestic market volatility prompted renewed interest in American equities. Exchange-traded funds tracking major U.S. indices have also climbed to the top ranks

Mirae Asset Securities retirement account holders allocated the largest ETF holdings to US S&P500 and NASDAQ100 tracking products as of end of June, with six of the top ten products focused on AI or semiconductors. TIGER US S&P500 ranked first, followed by TIGER US NASDAQ100, reflecting growth

According to Mirae Asset Securities, as of end of June, S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 tracking ETFs held the top two positions among exchange-traded funds in Korean defined contribution and individual retirement accounts. Six of the top ten holdings were AI and semiconductor-related products, reflecting a

Hong Kong stocks closed mixed on Wednesday (18th), with the Hang Seng Index rising 0.09% to 25495.07 points, while the Hang Seng Tech Index fell 1.21% to 4682.05 points. The divergence stemmed from corporate earnings results and weakness in overseas technology stocks, which pressured tech names whil

According to Zhitong Finance, the Hang Seng Index Futures August contract opened at 25,459 points on August 19. As of 5:18 PM Beijing time, the contract was trading at 25,442 points, down 17 points or 0.067%, trading at a discount of 53 points to the spot

According to Seoul Economical, South Korea's major asset management firms reported substantial earnings growth in the first half of 2026, driven by a surge in exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows and equity fund demand. MiraeAsset Management led with net profit of 906.3 billion won, up 177.4%

According to PANews, on August 19, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing CEO stated the exchange will consult with market participants before making any decisions on trading hour adjustments. The CEO also identified technology, robotics, and research and development as key focus areas for initial

US stock futures rebounded early Wednesday after President Donald Trump paused a planned 50% tariff hike on certain Canadian goods for three days. The temporary reprieve eased immediate trade concerns, though global tech selloffs and Middle East tensions kept investors cautious. Trump is scheduled t

Reddit (RDDT) joined the S&P 500 on Tuesday but declined 0.5% that day, extending an 11% cumulative drop over Monday and Tuesday. The S&P announced the inclusion on Aug. 14, with J.P. Morgan analysts estimating index funds would need to buy approximately 16.7 million shares. The stock faces

Major Korean listed companies are expected to sustain record-breaking earnings growth in Q3 2024 following strong Q2 performance, driven by increased memory demand from expanded artificial intelligence investment. According to FnGuide data released on the 19th, 230 KOSPI and KOSDAQ listed companies

According to Lee Daily, the won-to-dollar exchange rate fell below 1,400 won on August 19 for the first time in approximately 11 months, amid sustained dollar sales by semiconductor exporters including Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Analysts suggested the currency could weaken further to 1,350 wo

According to Zhi Tong Finance, China Railway Signal Times Electric Limited (03898) released its H1 2026 earnings on August 19, reporting operating revenue of approximately 13.07 billion yuan, up 7.01% year-over-year, and net profit attributable to shareholders of approximately 1.712 billion yuan, up

South Korea's KOSDAQ stocks outperformed the broader KOSPI index today as global long-term government bond yields surged to multi-decade highs. The KOSPI closed at 6471.17, down 5.8%, while the KOSDAQ fell just 1.17% to 824.46, with the technology-focused index briefly turning positive during the se

As of 4:30 a.m. ET Wednesday, Nasdaq and S&P 500 futures rose 0.1%, rebounding after President Donald Trump paused a planned 50% tariff on certain Canadian goods for three days. The temporary truce eased immediate trade concerns, offsetting a global technology selloff sparked by geopolitical

According to Stocktwits data, Reddit shares declined 0.5% on Tuesday (Aug. 19) as the S&P 500 inclusion boost waned, with cumulative losses of 11% over Monday and Tuesday. The stock was added to the benchmark index on Tuesday following the announcement on Aug. 14, which had initially driven

According to F&Guide data, 230 major Korean-listed companies are expected to post record Q3 operating profit of 246.11 trillion won, up 293.8% year-over-year, with revenue projected at 969.37 trillion won, up 39.1% from the same period last year. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix account for 78.3% of

According to Yonhap InfoMax, South Korea's FX swap points remained flat across most tenors on August 19. The 1-year tenor closed at -9.50 won against opening, while the 6-month tenor held at -4.70 won and the 3-month tenor rose 0.05 won to -1.90 won. Overnight and tomorrow-next segments remained

According to MicroStrategy's Q2 2026 earnings call livestreamed on August 17, a shareholder disclosed that he had invested $73,000 in MSTR stock for each of his three children, with each position now worth approximately $20,000—a roughly 73% decline. CEO Phong Le confirmed the company will not pay a

According to an announcement, Crystal International (02232) will distribute an interim dividend of HK$0.18 per share on September 17, 2026.