Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

According to financial investment industry sources, KB Asset Management launched the 'RISE Kosdaq Covered Call Active' ETF on August 2, targeting annual monthly distributions of approximately 15%. This follows Kiwoom Investment Asset Management's earlier introduction of the 'KIWOOM Kosdaq 150 Covere

According to Lee Jae-man, head of global investment analysis at Hana Securities, KOSPI could reach 10,380 and S&P 500 could hit 9,240 in the second half of 2026, contingent on hyperscalers maintaining operating margin defense, positive free cash flow, and limited U.S. rate increases. Global

South Korean retail investors lost approximately 50 trillion won on US stocks in June and July, Korea Securities Depository data showed. The losses occurred despite $5.3 billion in net purchases over the two months, driven by declines in top holdings Tesla (down 29.1%) and NVIDIA (down 7.6%),

According to South Korea's Korea Securities Depository portal and Citi Global Markets, South Korean retail investors lost approximately 50 trillion Korean won in U.S. stock holdings over June and July, despite pouring net inflows of 53 billion dollars into American equities during the same period.

According to Odaily, as of end of July, South Korea's five major banks—KB Kook Min, Shinhan, Korea Exchange Bank, Woori, and NH Nonghyup—saw deposit balances reach 973.49 trillion won, up 24.09 trillion won from the previous month, marking the largest monthly increase this year. Investor appetite f

Tech and semiconductor stocks staged a dramatic two-day rally in late July, with South Korea's KOSPI index surging 18.5% and U.S. semiconductor shares posting their best two days since June. The initial selloff was triggered by hedge fund Situational Awareness, which faced margin calls due to

According to Jeff Pu, an analyst at Guotai Junan Securities, Apple's iPhone 18 Pro series prices are expected to increase by $250 to $300 compared to the current generation. The iPhone 18 Pro base model could rise to $1,399, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max may start at $1,499. The price hikes are

On August 1, China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange held a video conference to deploy foreign exchange management priorities for the second half of 2026. The agency outlined plans to steadily expand institutional

According to Morgan Stanley's 120-page report released on July 27, the bank identifies "Time to Power" (the time required to secure electricity supply for data centers) as the most significantly underpriced investment theme in the AI infrastructure sector. The report argues that while market

According to Arkham monitoring data tracked by ChainCatcher, Morgan Stanley purchased approximately 114.644 BTC through its spot Bitcoin ETF MSBT (MSBT) for $7.21 million. The firm's total Bitcoin holdings have surpassed 6,231 BTC, valued at over $390 million.

South Korea's Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan held an emergency inspection meeting on the 2nd at 5 PM Frankfurt time to assess the supply situation of oil, naphtha, and other resources amid escalating Middle East tensions. The government is monitoring real-time supply

The Magnificent 7 US stocks — Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, and Tesla — showed diverging performance during the Q2 earnings season, with Microsoft and Amazon surging while Alphabet, Meta, and Apple faced investor skepticism. The shift reflects investors no longer asking 'how

According to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Resources, South Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-gwan held an emergency video conference on August 2 to assess crude oil and naphtha supply amid escalating Middle East tensions. The meeting reviewed supply status, inventory levels, and

According to data from the Financial Supervisory Service presented to lawmaker Lee Jong-wook, stablecoin outflows from South Korea's five major exchanges totaled 5.603 trillion won in June, with cumulative outflows exceeding inflows for 18 consecutive months. The June net outflow represented 77.6% o

According to Maeil Business Newspaper, Microsoft and Amazon emerged as clear winners in the latest earnings season as investor focus shifted from AI capital spending to profitability and free cash flow generation. Microsoft reported Q4 2026 revenue of $90.07 billion, up 18% year-over-year, with

South Korea's semiconductor exports grew at triple-digit rates in the first half of this year. However, peak-out concerns have emerged in the stock market despite the strong performance. Hanwha Investment & Securities stated on the 2nd that current market worries are excessive, though real risks

Last week, South Korea's KOSPI index set multiple historic records, including back-to-back circuit breakers triggered on both the main market and KOSDAQ for the first time. The index recorded its second-largest

GS Engineering & Construction recorded revenue of 2.7799 trillion won and operating profit of 91.4 billion won in the second quarter of 2026, falling short of market expectations. Revenue declined 13.0% year-over-year, while operating profit plummeted 43.6%, coming in nearly 20% below the

According to Mirae Asset Securities, GS E&C reported Q2 2026 operating profit of 91.4 billion won, down 43.6% year-over-year and 20% below analyst consensus of 114.7 billion won. Revenue fell 13% to 2.78 trillion won amid plant project losses and provisions. Despite the weak results, analysts

According to Hana Financial Investment, on August 2, South Korea's semiconductor sector is approaching a critical risk period characterized by declining export prices and a narrowing competitive gap with China. While the country's semiconductor exports surged at triple-digit growth rates in the