Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

According to Bull Theory, the KOSPI (South Korea's benchmark equity index) plunged 41% in 40 days from its June peak of approximately 9,385 points, marking the fastest major decline in three decades. The sell-off was driven by heavy semiconductor exposure, concerns over AI spending returns,

According to OPEC+, the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) will hold its next meeting on October 4.

Huaxin Cement (06655.HK) announced a two-stage acquisition of Holcim Philippines Inc. The first stage involves acquiring a 67.623% stake indirectly through three holding companies for approximately $527 million. The second stage, occurring three years later, allows Huaxin to acquire the

According to The Senior Citizens League, Social Security recipients could receive a 3.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2027, one percentage point higher than the 2.8% adjustment in 2026. This projection would add approximately $79 to the average retired worker's monthly benefit, lifting the cu

According to BlockBeats, in the past two months as of August 2, the U.S. ETF industry launched 1,001 ETFs—surpassing the total number introduced during the entire first half of 2024. Among this year's ETF launches, 54% contain derivatives components, while over 33% are classified as leveraged or

Bitcoin posted a 7.36% return in July but faces mounting pressure in August as macro headwinds intensify. The USD/JPY pair dropped over 3% from 164 to 157 after Japan spent $52.8 billion defending the yen, with the U.S.

According to AMBCrypto, Japan spent $52.8 billion defending the yen this week, with USD/JPY falling more than 3% to 157 from 164. The U.S. Treasury also sold euros to buy yen, marking America's first yen intervention since 1998. The move has rippled across markets. The 30-year U.S. Treasury yield c

According to Odaily citing a CFTC statement, on August 2 the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission proposed amendments to sections 37, 38, 39 and sections 1.52 and 1.55 of CFTC regulations to address conflicts of interest among affiliated derivatives trading entities. The public comment period

OPEC+ announced that its next meeting will be held on September 6.

According to OPEC+ statement, the organization agreed to raise September oil production quotas by 188,000 barrels per day.

According to Reuters, on July 31, a note from U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessen was photographed by reporters at a cabinet meeting at Camp David, revealing a plan to purchase $5 to $10 billion in Japanese yen. The leaked document indicated the U.S. government's intention to intervene in currency

According to Lumentum CEO Michael Hurlston, phosphide indium (InP) laser supplies for AI data centers face a critical shortage, with product shipments potentially falling 30% or more below customer demand, even with the company's five InP wafer fabs operating at capacity. The supply pressure is

SK Biotech, the South Korean subsidiary of SK Pharmteco, received approval for its new Sejong manufacturing facility at the end of June. The M5 factory produces active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for obesity treatments, specifically GLP-1 peptide-based drugs. SK Pharmteco decided on a $260

According to Seoul Economics, SK Biotech, a subsidiary of SK Pharmatech, received regulatory approval for its new Sejong manufacturing facility in late June 2026. The plant, constructed with a 260 million dollar investment, spans 12,634 square meters and features eight production lines capable of pr

According to Yonhapnews, South Korean semiconductor-focused ETFs plunged significantly in August as major holdings declined sharply. SOL AI Semiconductor TOP2 Plus fell -40% in the past month, nearly double KOSPI's -22.1% decline, according to Korea Exchange data as of August 2. Other similar

According to Barron's, L3 Harris Technologies' stock fell 9% on July 30 after the company reported stronger-than-expected Q2 earnings on July 29. The defense contractor beat Wall Street estimates with 28% year-over-year earnings growth and raised full-year guidance, but the market reacted

According to the Wall Street Journal, Situational Awareness, an investment fund focused on artificial intelligence, experienced a sharp decline of 67% in July amid a significant selloff in AI-related stocks. Fund founder Leopold Aschenbrenner, an AI researcher, acknowledged the losses in a letter to

According to Korea Exchange, as of July 31, 1,859 listed companies on South Korea's KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets recorded negative returns compared to June 30. This represented 70% of the 2,645 total listed companies on both exchanges during a month of record

According to NATE, South Korea's financial regulators raised the minimum margin requirement for leveraged single-stock ETFs to 30 million won on July 31, up from 10 million won, causing trading volume to plummet 80% on the first day. The Korea Financial Services Commission (FSC) and Financial

According to Bank of America Merrill Lynch research released on August 2, Samsung Electronics has placed 60-70% of its memory sales under long-term agreements with asymmetric pricing terms: single-quarter price declines capped at 5%, while increases can reach 10-20% with no upper limit. The