Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

POSCO Holdings reported Q2 operating profit of 820 billion won on the 30th, a 34.9% year-over-year increase that exceeded market consensus of 709.6 billion won. The South Korean conglomerate's revenue reached 19.26 trillion won, up 9.7% year-over-year, while net profit surged 808% to 760 billion won

Korean retail investors increased margin trading in Korean stocks during the week of July 24-28 despite KOSPI plunging 10.84% on July 28. Margin trading balances rose from 32.6716 trillion won on July 24 to 33.194 trillion won by July 28, according to securities industry data. The increase

Foreign institutional investors managing Korean stocks ETFs view Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix as attractive entry opportunities amid recent market volatility, according to direct interviews. David Fetherstonhaugh, investment strategist at VistaShares, stated the firm does not expect Chinese

According to Yonhapinfomax, Samsung Electro-Mechanics reported Q2 revenue of 3.46 trillion won and operating profit of 440.4 billion won today (July 30), both exceeding market expectations. Revenue increased 24% year-over-year, while operating profit jumped 107% compared to the prior-year period.

Bloomberg criticized South Korea's single-stock leveraged ETF regulations as arriving too late for investors who lost 80% of their assets, according to a report on the 29th. The KOSPI index triggered circuit breakers on two consecutive trading days, marking the first time in history this has

According to the securities industry, South Korea's KOSPI index plunged 10.84% on July 28, yet margin trading balances surged to 33.194 trillion won, up from 32.671 trillion won on July 24, marking a rare phenomenon where leveraged trading increases during market declines. This reversal was

According to Bloomberg, South Korea's KOSPI index triggered circuit breakers on consecutive trading days (July 29-30) for the first time in history. On July 29, KOSPI fell 10.84%, followed by a 5.98% drop on July 30, with intraday losses expanding to 12.64%. July-to-date losses have

According to David Fetherstonhaugh, investment strategist at VistaShare, today Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix present an attractive entry opportunity amid market uncertainty over Chinese chip competition. Fetherstonhaugh stated that he does not expect China to flood the market with semiconductor v

Saudi Arabia's GDP contracted 4.8% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026. Non-oil sector activities fell 24.7% over the same period.

Shell's oil and gas production declined 16% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, primarily due to the impact of Middle East conflict on its Qatar operations.

Shell (SHEL.N) expects its combined natural gas output in the third quarter to reach between 570,000 and 630,000 barrels oil equivalent per day, according to the company's latest guidance.

South Korean financial regulators held an emergency market meeting on May 29 at the Government Complex Seoul to address extreme volatility in single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with Deputy Prime Minister and

Samsung Electronics announced record-breaking second-quarter earnings on July 30, yet its stock declined after an initial surge, reflecting investor concerns about future semiconductor market conditions rather than current performance. The company reported quarterly revenue of 171.5 trillion won

Shell reported adjusted earnings of $9.84 billion for the second quarter, surpassing market expectations of $8.68 billion. The energy giant beat consensus forecasts by approximately 13%, reflecting stronger operational performance during the

Stellantis reported net profit of €670 million in the first half of 2026, exceeding market expectations of €552 million. The automotive manufacturer's earnings surpassed analyst estimates, reflecting its operational performance during the

According to Seema Shah, chief global strategist at Secure Income Management, on July 30, the Federal Reserve's decision to maintain interest rates unchanged amid three dissenting votes suggests the decision reflects internal debate rather than consensus. The statement provided limited new

SpaceX shares fell 3.32% on Wednesday, July 29, closing at $112.55, despite the company landing a $1.6 billion order from the US Space Force covering 18 Falcon 9 launches through 2027. The decline is part of a broader slide since SpaceX's Nasdaq debut, where the stock priced its IPO at $135,

According to the World Gold Council, India's gold demand in the June quarter declined 6% year-on-year, driven primarily by weak jewelry purchases. Higher gold import tariffs have fueled smuggling and squeezed legitimate market

According to an emergency market situation check held on July 29, South Korea's government is reviewing Hong Kong's flexible leverage structure as an additional measure for single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Under this mechanism, leverage multipliers can adjust from the standard 2x