Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

According to iM Securities on August 20, the firm cut Seojeong Systems' target price to 68,000 Korean won from 77,000 won, citing domestic market adjustments, planned additional convertible bond issuance of approximately 200 billion won in the second half, and valuation

South Korean government bond futures rose during overnight trading on August 20, supported by the US Treasury's announcement to expand its long-term bond buyback program. The 3-year bond futures closed at 103.34, up 4 ticks from the previous day's regular session close, while 10-year bond futures ro

Independent Korean asset management firms recorded extraordinary profits in Q2, with small boutique operators outearning securities firms hundreds of times their size. Kam Investment Advisory, a three-year-old firm with 15 employees, posted 307.4 billion won in net profit during Q2 alone —

Lowe's Companies (NYS:LOW), the second-largest home improvement retailer in the United States, reported Q2 (May–July) revenue of $25.96 billion on the 19th (US local time), missing the market consensus of $26.16 billion amid weakened consumer sentiment. The company revised its full-year guidance

According to CNBC, Target (NYSE: TGT) reported a Q2 earnings beat on Aug 19 (U.S. time), with net sales of $26.54 billion, surpassing Wall Street's expectation of $26.14 billion. Comparable-store sales growth reached 3.8%, significantly outpacing the expected 2.3%. Net income surged to $1.88 billio

According to Yonhap Infomax, South Korea's Financial Investment Association Education Institute announced on August 20 that it will allocate approximately 3.2 billion won in revenue from mandatory pre-education fees for single-stock leveraged ETF trading to free financial education programs for

According to CNBC, on August 19 (U.S. time), Lowe's Companies reported second-quarter revenue of $25.96 billion, falling short of market expectations of $26.16 billion, amid weakening consumer sentiment. The home improvement retailer revised its full-year guidance to the lower end of prior ranges, p

According to Bitcoin Magazine, Bitwise's Chief Investment Officer said bitcoin appears to be nearing its bottom, with market conditions suggesting potential upward volatility release ahead. The CIO expressed considerable optimism regarding Bitcoin's trajectory for the remainder of 2026, indicating c

On August 19, the U.S. stock market rebounded with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 0.22%, or 119.65 points, to close at 53,463.05. Biotech stocks drove the rebound despite semiconductor sector volatility, with strong clinical trial results supporting gains in the healthcare sector.

According to South Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare Minister Jung Eun-kyung on August 19, the National Pension Service (NPS) delayed domestic stock rebalancing earlier this year to monitor market conditions, not for political reasons related to elections. Speaking at a parliamentary budget

According to Bank of America strategist Michael Hartnett, the U.S. national debt is poised to breach $40 trillion, with government interest payments having reached $1.4 trillion over the past 12 months. In his latest Flow Show report, Hartnett outlined a three-pillar investment strategy: avoid

Hanwha Defense USA was selected as the sole prototype contractor for the US Army's Mobile Tactical Cannon (MTC) program, according to a Daol Investment & Securities research report published on the 20th. The contract covers up to 18 prototype units valued at a maximum of $260 million, with an

IMM Investment launched a 3,000 billion won secondary venture fund to address Korea's venture fund maturity crisis. The firm secured 155 billion won from policy institutions including Korea Development Bank and pension funds for its seventh secondary fund series. Korean venture funds totaling 53

Samsung Electronics stocks fell 10% over two days amid concerns that rising US long-term Treasury yields would increase AI investment costs, according to an analysis by KB Securities. Kim Dong-won, head of KB Securities Research Division, stated in a report that AI investment returns are

According to KB Securities, Samsung Electronics stock fell 10% on August 19-20 amid concerns about rising U.S. Treasury yields impacting AI investments. However, the brokerage analyzed that big tech companies' AI investment payback period could shorten to within three years, offsetting rate concerns

On August 20, U.S. long-term Treasury yields approached 5%, raising financing costs for AI data center investments and driving broader volatility in risk assets. The semiconductor sector's recent pullback stems from rising interest rates rather than weakening AI demand, as elevated borrowing costs f

The US dollar plunged on August 19 afternoon as the US Treasury unexpectedly announced it would more than double its buyback program for long-term bonds. The dollar index (DXY) fell to its lowest level in approximately three months, dropping 0.867% to 98.797, while the dollar-yen rate

According to Bloomberg macro strategist Simon White, the S&P 500 faces potential market turbulence as shifts in options market Gamma could rapidly amplify volatility and trigger forced selling. While the index remains less than 1% from recent highs, underlying market structure is weakening as

According to Federal Reserve meeting minutes released on Aug. 20, officials evaluated labor market conditions as stable overall, with unemployment rates holding relatively steady near long-term estimates. However, some officials noted signs of labor market weakness persisting, including low employme

According to Korean Economic TV, U.S. stocks rallied across the board today (August 19) as Treasury yields plummeted following the Treasury Department's expanded long-term bond buyback program. Moderna led gains with a 177% surge on positive Phase 3 clinical trial data for a skin cancer vaccine