Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

Taiwan Stock Exchange Weighted Index closed up 0.6% today at 45,224.29 points.

According to CME data, on Aug 20, energy and precious metals futures showed divergent performance in trading volume and open interest. WTI crude oil volume and open interest both increased—volume rose by 41,043 contracts to 768,271, while open interest grew by 10,686 contracts to 1,897,813. Brent cr

According to the China Non-ferrous Metals Industry Association Silicon Branch and AnTaike data, silicon wafer prices surged significantly this week. N-type G10L single-crystal wafers rose 40% to 1.12 yuan per piece, while N-type G12R wafers climbed 26.67% to 1.14 yuan per piece, and N-type G12 wafer

Korean stock trading active accounts reached a record 111.48 million as of the 19th, according to Financial Investment Association statistics, even as the KOSPI fell 22.2% from June end to July end and investor deposits declined by approximately 27.45 trillion won over two months. The paradox

According to Edaily, citing Financial Investment Association data, South Korea's active stock trading accounts reached 111.85 million as of late July 2026, hitting a record high. However, investor deposits fell significantly to 104.1 trillion Korean won from 131.6 trillion won in May, with

According to Goldman Sachs, despite recent selling pressure on long-term U.S. Treasuries, their valuations show no significant deviation relative to macroeconomic fundamentals or comparable assets. The U.S. Treasury Department's decision to expand bond repurchase operations signals willingness to de

On August 21, Shanghai International Energy Exchange (subsidiary of Shanghai Futures Exchange) completed its first cross-border delivery of No. 20 rubber futures. A foreign standard warehouse receipt for 600 tons of No. 20 rubber was generated by offshore depository Taihua Natural Rubber (Public)

According to Daiwa Capital Markets analysts, the European Central Bank has benefited from limited indirect spillovers of energy shocks to other commodity prices, but this respite faces growing risks. As oil and gas wholesale prices have risen sharply in recent weeks, the likelihood of intensified in

The Korean government announced on the 21st a policy to transfer a significant portion of surplus tax revenue, driven by the semiconductor boom, into a newly established Future Response Fund. The decision stems from rapidly increasing tax collections that exceed historical trends. This policy

According to Sumitomo Mitsui Securities economists, the Bank of Japan is expected to raise the policy rate from 1% to 1.25% at its September meeting, with an 84% probability shown in overnight index swaps. The economists forecast additional rate increases in January and June 2027, bringing the polic

According to South Korea's Ministry of Economy and Finance on August 21, the government announced plans to redirect a significant portion of surging tax revenue—driven by strong semiconductor demand—into the Future Response Fund. The fund will invest in four priority areas: youth development,

Samsung Electronics is expected to announce a shareholder return plan worth 100 trillion to 150 trillion won this month, according to securities industry sources on the 21st. If realized, this would be the largest shareholder return in the history of Korean listed companies. The anticipation

According to Herald Economy, Samsung Electronics is expected to announce a shareholder return plan worth 100-150 trillion won this month, which would be the largest ever by a South Korean listed company. The move follows SK Hynix's announcement of a 40 trillion won buyback program. Analysts expect t

US Stock Market News: On Thursday, the S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite, and Dow Jones Industrial Average all closed lower. The decline followed what the source described as Bessent's one-day intervention, higher oil prices, Walmart's Q2 earnings miss, and pressure from rising Treasury yields.

According to Huafu Securities, Guan Tao has been appointed Chief Economist of the firm on August 21. Guan previously served as International Balance of Payments Division Director and spokesperson at China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange, and as Global Chief Economist at China Bank Interna

According to Financial News, Samsung Display today received an allocation of 67 trillion won out of Samsung's total 140 trillion won Chungcheong region investment plan announced last month. The company approved A7 factory construction resumption on August 7, with groundbreaking beginning this month

India's composite purchasing managers' index rose to 54.6 in August, surpassing the forecast of 54.4 and edging up from the previous month's 54.3, indicating sustained economic activity in Asia's third-largest

India's services sector purchasing managers' index (PMI) came in at 54.5 in August, beating the forecast of 53.8 and up from 53.3 in the previous month.