Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

According to NH Investment & Securities analyst Yoon Yu-dong, Korea Financial Group (KFG) pursues the acquisition of KDB Life Insurance on August 21, with a double leverage ratio of 123% requiring capital-raising alongside internal funds to finance the deal. The analyst flagged concerns over

According to CNBC, Morgan Stanley analyst Terrence Flynn upgraded Merck (MRK) on August 20, raising the investment rating from Equal-weight to Overweight and lifting the price target from $116 to $179. Despite near-term pressure from Keytruda's patent expiration next year, Flynn forecasted that Merc

Fahmi Quadir, founder and Chief Investment Officer of Safkhet Capital, known as 'The Assassin of Wall Street' for short-selling strategies, announced a shift to long activist investing in South Korea. Safkhet Capital is raising a minimum $300 million fund to target undervalued Korean stocks, with

Five active exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in South Korea were delisted within a two-month period due to correlation coefficient violations, prompting asset management industry calls for regulatory reform. TIME US Dividend Dow Jones Active, managed by Timefolio Asset Management, was delisted on

According to Economist, as of late July, profitable companies were included among KOSDAQ-listed firms facing delisting designation under enhanced regulatory criteria, triggering industry concerns. Among 149 KOSDAQ firms with market capitalization below 2 billion won, 45 were profitable,

According to Sapphire Capital founder Pami Kadir in an interview with Yonhapnews on August 21, the hedge fund is raising a minimum of $300 million for long-term activist investments in South Korea. Kadir, known for short-selling campaigns that exposed accounting issues at companies like Wirecard

According to Korea Exchange, five active exchange-traded funds (ETFs) were delisted in two months due to failing to meet correlation coefficient requirements with benchmark indices. On August 19, Time Portfolio Asset Management's TIME U.S. Dividend Dow Jones Active ETF was delisted; four Korea

SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold ETF, increased its holdings by 4.28 tonnes on Aug 20, bringing total holdings to 1038.934 tonnes.

According to data released by Russia's Central Bank on August 1, the country's gold reserves fell by 1.6 million ounces to 73.2 million ounces since the start of 2026, marking the lowest level since January 2020. The holdings declined in value by $33.7 billion over the past seven

Yuanta Securities maintained a target price of 830,000 won for SK Inc. stocks and projected that shareholder returns will accelerate starting next year. The securities firm cited subsidiary earnings growth and brand royalty increases as drivers for improved cash flow at the holding company. Yuanta S

According to Jin10 Futures, on August 21, ethylene glycol prices maintained an uptrend as international crude oil continued to climb. Cost pressures from rising crude oil supported market sentiment, with spot prices in East China quoted in the 5,700–5,800 yuan per ton

According to Yuanta Securities on August 21, SK maintained a buy rating and 830,000 KRW price target, representing 46% upside from the previous close of 568,000 KRW. The company posted second-quarter operating profit of 4.84 trillion KRW, surpassing market consensus by 77%. Yuanta expects

According to KOMIS citing London Metal Exchange data, copper hit record highs on August 21, entering a consolidation phase after the recent surge. Despite short-term profit-taking and large inflows easing the rally, structural supply shortages remain persistent, suggesting the uptrend will

According to Barron's, Micron Technology announced on Thursday that it will invest $10 billion over the next 10 years to establish a research institution aimed at addressing memory supply chain bottlenecks. The Micron Research Labs will bring together academia, government, chip manufacturers, and

Kwon Min-soo began his three-year term as Bank of Korea Deputy Governor, according to the central bank. Kwon brings over 30 years of BOK experience specializing in foreign exchange and international finance. The appointment places a career central banker with direct crisis management experience

According to Jin10, Samsung Electronics will announce a new shareholder return plan worth 110 trillion Korean won ($79 billion) on Friday, August 21. The company's board of directors will meet after South Korean markets close at around 4 p.m. local time, with plan details to be disclosed shortly

According to the Bank of Korea, Kwon Min-soo took office as deputy governor on August 21, serving a three-year term. Kwon brings over 30 years of experience in foreign exchange and international finance, having worked through the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the 2008 global financial crisis, and the

According to South Korea's customs data, exports grew 56.0% year-on-year and imports rose 19.0% year-on-year during August 1-20, 2026. The country recorded a trade surplus of $13.98 billion for the period.

The Nikkei 225 Index opened down 639.56 points on Friday, August 21, representing a 0.97% decline. The index opened at 65,577.23 points.