Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

South Korean single-stock leverage ETF trading volumes dropped to 1.027 trillion won per day during Aug 18-21. Financial authorities raised investment thresholds for individual investors, requiring 5+ hours of simulated trading for new participants starting Aug 19. As leverage ETF activity cooled, g

According to Korea Exchange data, single-stock leveraged and inverse ETF trading volumes fell sharply from August 18-21 following tighter regulatory requirements. The 16 products recorded a combined 4.01 trillion won in trading, averaging 1.003 trillion won per day, down 12-fold from 12.4 trillion w

According to CME Fed Watch tool data released on August 22, the Federal Reserve has a 59.9% probability of maintaining interest rates unchanged at its September meeting, with a 40.1% probability of raising rates by 25 basis points. For October, market expectations show a 45.3% probability of no rat

The USD-KRW 1-month NDF closed at 1,385.80 won (MID) on the night of the 22nd, down 0.55 won from the previous Seoul spot market close of 1,386.50 won, according to overseas brokers. The decline reflects ongoing geopolitical uncertainty as negotiations over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz

According to Jin10, President Trump addressed the U.S. national debt surpassing 40 trillion dollars on August 22, stating the issue "has existed for 35 years" and can be solved "through growth," as the U.S. is currently experiencing "very strong growth." When asked if he had directed Treasury

SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold ETF, increased its holdings by 8.273 tons yesterday to 1,047.207 tons, according to fund data.

The USD-KRW exchange rate traded at 1,386.20 won at 6 AM on the 22nd, down 0.30 won from the previous Seoul trading session close of 1,386.50 won. The won's weekly decline of 30.60 won marked its first close in the 1,300-range in 11 months, driven by export company negotiation volumes and offshore s

According to Yonhapinfomax, the USD/KRW exchange rate traded at 1,386.20 won as of 6 a.m. on August 22, falling 30.60 won over the week—marking the first close below 1,390 won in 11 months. Export-related selling and offshore pressure drove the pair to a low of 1,380.30 won on the previous

iShares Silver Trust, the world's largest silver ETF, increased its holdings by 19.68 tons overnight (Aug 21), bringing total holdings to 15,295.27 tons.

Following South Korean financial authorities' tightening of individual investor access to single-stock leveraged ETFs, trading volumes have declined sharply this week, averaging around 1 trillion Korean won per day compared to the previous peak of over 10 trillion won. Meanwhile, gold-related ETFs h

According to Bitwise CEO, this week, Bitwise Solana Staking ETF (BSOL) received inflows exceeding $20 million.

The Nevada Transportation Authority approved Tesla, Uber, and Waymo to provide autonomous taxi services in Clark County (Las Vegas area) on Thursday. Tesla received approval to deploy up to 5,000 robotaxis over the next 12 months, while Waymo and Uber each secured permits for 1,000 vehicles. Tesla s

Iran's crude oil loadings collapsed to approximately 260,000 barrels per day by May 2026, down from 1.5 to 1.85 million barrels per day before the US-Israel conflict escalated in late February 2026. The decline resulted from a US naval blockade of Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz launched on F

As of August 2026, Iran's crude oil loadings have fallen to approximately 260,000 barrels per day—roughly one-seventh of pre-conflict levels of 1.5 to 1.85 million bpd. The collapse followed the US-Israel conflict escalation on February 28, 2026, which triggered a US naval blockade of Iranian

Korean Treasury futures showed mixed performance in overnight trading as US Treasuries weakened. The 3-year futures closed unchanged at 103.13 while 10-year futures rose 21 ticks to 105.32, according to the Seoul bond market. The divergence reflected foreign investor net buying across both tenors

According to Yonhap Infomax, South Korean government bond futures showed mixed movement overnight on August 22 as U.S. Treasuries declined. The 3-year bond futures closed at 103.13, matching the previous day's session, while 10-year futures gained 21 ticks to 105.32. Foreign investors bought 24

US biotech firm Moderna triggered significant volatility in Korean pharmaceutical and biotech stocks following a clinical trial announcement. On August 19, Moderna surged 176.97% after announcing its personalized mRNA cancer treatment 'Intismaran Autogene,' co-developed with Merck, met primary

On Friday (August 21), U.S. 30-year Treasury yields rose to 5.276%, approaching the 5.3% level, marking the second consecutive trading day of gains despite the Treasury Department's announcement earlier in the week to expand buyback operations for long-dated securities. The 10-year yield also

According to Yonhapnews, on August 21, South Korea's KOSPI index fell 92.63 points (1.35%) to close at 6,759.95, while KOSDAQ declined 16.84 points (2.00%) to 824.05. The decline came as biotech shares, which surged on August 20 following Moderna's 176.97% single-day spike on successful mRNA