Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

Korean financial authorities implemented a strengthened cash deposit requirement for single-stock leveraged ETFs on the 31st, raising the minimum to 30 million won in cash only. The measure, designed to curb market volatility driven by these high-risk products, eliminates the previous allowance for

Clear Street is offering accredited investors access to pre-IPO shares in Databricks, following the AI data company's July 16 term sheet signing at a $188B valuation. The offering follows Databricks' strategic funding round expected to raise approximately $3B, led by Coatue Management. Databricks' v

Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet (Google's parent company) collectively added nearly $1.5 trillion in market capitalization this week, with Alphabet reaching approximately $4.3 trillion, Microsoft around $2.8 trillion, and Amazon near $2.5 trillion. The rally follows capital expenditure guidance

Ship crossings through the Strait of Hormuz dropped 77% in a single day, with only Iran-approved routes being utilized. The decline occurred amid ongoing US-Iran tensions over the strategic chokepoint, which is crucial for global oil and gas shipments. Security concerns and geopolitical tensions

According to Korea Exchange, on July 31, South Korea's single-stock leverage ETF trading volumes plummeted following enforcement of stricter deposit requirements. The financial regulator raised the minimum cash deposit to 30 million KRW, eliminating previous allowances for using stocks, ETFs, and

Clear Street, the cloud-native brokerage, opened pre-IPO access to Databricks shares for accredited investors on July 16, as Databricks signed a term sheet valuing the AI data analytics company at $188B. The latest funding round is expected to raise approximately $3B, led by Coatue Management,

Amazon's stock surged 9-14% in after-hours trading on July 30 following the release of its Q2 2026 earnings report, putting it on pace for its best single-day performance in approximately 11 years. AWS, the company's cloud division, generated $42.2 billion in revenue, marking a 37% year-over-year in

Apple reported Q3 fiscal 2026 results on July 30 with strong revenue and earnings per share, but shares fell nearly 10% in after-hours trading on July 31 after the company issued a Q4 revenue growth forecast of 9% to 11%, below Wall Street consensus of approximately 12%. The stock decline

On July 31, U.S. sector ETFs posted mixed results, with Discretionary ETF rising 3.29%, Internet ETF up 2.59%, Energy ETF gaining 1%, and Semiconductor ETF up 0.3%, while Technology ETF fell 0.22% and Biotech ETF declined 1.87%. Year-to-date through July, Semiconductor ETF has surged 50.09%, Energy

According to The New York Times, Federal Reserve Chair Kevin M. Walsh considered reducing the frequency of the central bank's regular policy meetings during this week's session, four sources said. The proposal, if adopted, would mark a significant operational overhaul for the Fed, which currently

The U.S. dollar slipped below the 158 level against the Japanese yen intraday, trading at 157.99. The pair declined 0.92% during the session and dropped over 100 points within the past 30 minutes.

Circle Internet Group received a limited-purpose trust charter from the New York Department of Financial Services for Circle Internet Trust Company LLC, driving CRCL stock up 5%. The approval establishes a regulated New York trust structure for the USDC issuer as stablecoins face closer review from

TD Cowen lowered its SharpLink Gaming price target to $13 from $16 on July 30 after reducing its year-end 2026 Ethereum forecast to $2,371 from approximately $3,650. Analysts Lance Vitanza and Jonathan Navarrete cited weaker-than-expected second-quarter ether pricing as the reason for the revision w

TD Cowen reduced SharpLink Gaming's price target to $13 from $16 on July 30, citing a weaker-than-expected 2026 Ethereum outlook, while maintaining a Buy rating. Analysts Lance Vitanza and Jonathan Navarrete lowered the firm's year-end 2026 Ethereum forecast to $2,371 from approximately $3,650

South Korea's financial sector expressed concerns on July 31 over regulators studying single-stock leveraged ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) measures, particularly regarding plans to strengthen liquidity provider (LP) management obligations by lowering the closing price discrepancy threshold from 3% to 2

Microsoft (MSFT) stock surged Thursday, closing near $451.50 with a 15.5% gain—its strongest one-day percentage increase since October 2008. The rally added nearly $450 billion to the company's market value, the largest one-day increase recorded by any company, lifting its valuation to

Microsoft stock surged Thursday, closing at $451.50 with a 15.5% gain—its strongest one-day performance since October 2008. The rally added approximately $450 billion to the company's market value, lifting its valuation to $3.35 trillion. The surge followed the company's fiscal fourth-quarter

This week, Situational Awareness suffered losses on leveraged artificial intelligence bets and was forced to sell public stock positions as markets declined. The moves came amid the sharpest turbulence for tech stocks and rising long-term borrowing

AST SpaceMobile Inc. (ASTS) announced on Friday that BlueBird satellites 11, 12 and 13 are stacked and ready for their August 5 orbital launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The company said BlueBirds 14, 15 and 16 are set to follow, and production is

According to an official post on Friday (July 31), AST SpaceMobile said BlueBird satellites 11, 12 and 13 are stacked and ready for their August 5 launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. BlueBirds 14, 15 and 16 are set to follow. The company also announced