Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

According to JPMorgan Chase, the strategist team led by analyst Zahin Ov recently warned that S&P 500 index returns are expected to weaken in the second half of 2026 compared to international equities, making it unlikely to replicate the strong performance of the first half. The bank cited four

Brent crude oil reached its highest level in one month at $88 per barrel as Middle East tensions escalated following intensified military clashes between the United States and Iran, resulting in casualties. The surge in oil prices reflects international concerns over a potential broader conflict in

According to Chosun Biz Money Move, Seoul Electronics Communications, a KOSDAQ-listed company and former subsidiary of NICE Financial Group, was relisted for sale on July 16 just two months after completing a management rights transfer in May. The move follows emerging financial risks including

According to Jin10 and regional military sources, U.S. and Iranian forces intensified military operations on July 18–19, with Iran conducting drone and missile strikes on U.S. military bases in Kuwait and Iraq, while the U.S. military struck Iranian positions including Qeshm Island and near

Foreign investors achieved an 89.74% win rate in South Korea's stock market during net-buy sessions from January 2 to July 16, with the KOSPI rising on 35 out of 39 such days across 132 trading sessions. This pattern emerged as foreign capital concentrated in index heavyweights Samsung Electronics a

According to Korean Exchange data, on July 16, foreign investors' net buying days in South Korea's stock market correlated with KOSPI gains 89.74% of the time. Among 132 trading days from January 2 to July 16, 2026, foreign investors achieved net purchases on only 39 days, with 35 of those days

According to F&Guide, 118 ESG-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have recorded net outflows of 2.69 trillion won since the start of 2026, with total assets under management declining by 26.8%, indicating a significant slowdown in ESG investment

SK Hynix stocks experienced a maximum drawdown of 43% from peak during the recent week, matching decline levels last seen in 2022 when the company reported losses. SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won stated at the recent Jeju Forum that memory prices should fall, calling current prices abnormal. DRAM

KOSPI stocks exhibited extreme volatility on July 15 and July 16, with semiconductor shares leading a 6.24% surge before reversing 6.37% the following session. Of 944 KOSPI-listed stocks, 648 declined from June 22 to July 14, with Samsung Electronics falling 25.60% and SK Hynix dropping 34.46%

Korean listed companies experienced divergent outcomes as the Korea Exchange strengthened market capitalization requirements for listing maintenance this month, raising thresholds to 30 billion won for KOSPI and 20 billion won for KOSDAQ. The regulatory change triggered retail investor buying

Five major hyperscalers face scrutiny over AI infrastructure funding sustainability as corporate bond issuance reached $194.1 billion in July, according to data from Bloomberg and Samsung Securities. KB Securities and Samsung Securities analysts project these companies retain a minimum two-to-four-y

According to News1, on July 15-16, South Korea's KOSPI index experienced sharp volatility, surging 6.24% on July 15 before declining 6.37% on July 16. However, semiconductor stocks rebounded significantly faster than non-semiconductor peers during this period. Samsung Electronics rose 6.27% and SK H

According to Financial News, SK Hynix stock has fallen 43% recently, marking its steepest decline since 2022, despite strengthening DRAM fundamentals. This pullback reflects an overdue correction rather than deteriorating business conditions, according to analysts. DRAM spot prices rose 2% over the

According to MarketWatch, U.S. tech stocks fell on July 17, with the Nasdaq Composite declining 2.9% last week, the largest weekly drop since late June. However, Wall Street strategists argue this represents healthy capital rotation rather than the start of a broader market downturn. Energy,

According to Business Insider, TSMC's ADR tumbled roughly 6% on July 16 after the Taiwan chipmaker reported better-than-expected Q2 earnings and raised full-year guidance, as investors focused on heightened AI-related capital expenditure plans. Samsung faced similar "sell-the-rally" pressure the

According to the Financial Services Commission, South Korea's Finance Ministry pledged on July 20 to improve won accessibility with the goal of making it a freely convertible currency. The ministry released a roadmap for won internationalization, which aims to create an environment enabling

Samsung Electronics will unveil its second-half flagship smartphones at the Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event on July 22 at 10 PM KST in London, while the European Central Bank (ECB) will decide the Eurozone's benchmark interest rate on July 23 at 9:15 PM KST, and the Trump administration's legal

South Korea's KOSDAQ market saw its index fall below 800 to 791.84 on the 16th, marking a 4.53% decline, while daily trading volume dropped to 4.6145 trillion won — the lowest level in approximately 11 months since August 28 last year. The decline was triggered by a sharp drop in semiconductor

According to Kookmin Ilbo, the KOSDAQ index fell to 791.84 on July 16, closing down 4.53% as daily trading volume dropped to 4.61 trillion Korean won, marking the lowest level in approximately 11 months. The index has not recovered to 800 since declining below that level earlier this

According to President Zelensky, Ukrainian forces struck Russian targets on July 19, with Ukraine's Security Service destroying three oil storage facilities and another fuel depot in the Stavropol region. Ukrainian military also accurately hit three Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea, Zelensky