Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

Edge AI stocks surged today (July 16) on Chinese A-share exchanges, with Zhidu Share hitting its daily price limit for a second consecutive day. Green Precision, Fuday Electronics, Guoguang Electric, and Furong Technology also hit limit-up status, while Haosheng Electronics, Huiwei Intelligence,

According to South Korea's Financial Services Commission, Chair Lee Eok-won announced on July 16 that the government would introduce supplementary measures for single-stock leveraged ETFs. Speaking on a radio program, Lee stated the measures would address concerns about the products' potential

According to Odaily, Tim Draper, founder of Draper Associates, recently disclosed that he did not invest in Coinbase early because he believed retail crypto adoption would take longer, not due to concerns about founder Brian Armstrong. Draper had already invested in early Bitcoin company Coinlab;

Oxford Economics (OE) withdrew its previous forecast that geopolitical risks surrounding the United States and Iran would gradually dissipate, according to a report released on the 15th (local time). The institution stated that temporary tension-reduction measures agreed upon by both countries

According to Longzhong Information, China's refined oil prices are expected to rise by approximately 250 yuan/ton on July 17, 2026, equivalent to around 0.18 yuan per liter. For a 70-liter fuel tank, private vehicle owners will pay roughly 13 yuan more to fill up. This marks the ninth price

According to BlockBeats, four individual-stock leveraged ETFs tracking Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, issued by Samsung Global Investments and Samsung Asset Management, accumulated valuation losses of 8.8337 trillion Korean won from July 1 to July 13, according to FnGuide Quantwise and Mirae Asse

According to CNBC, Warren Buffett, the chairman of Berkshire Hathaway and 95-year-old, sharply criticized the current U.S. stock market, saying it has been taken over by “speculative trading.” In remarks during an interview with well-known business anchor Becky Quick, he said, “When everyone prefers gambling, it’s hard to find value.” Earlier this year, Buffett had also mockingly compared the U.S. stock market to “a church with a casino attached.” Buffett calls 0DTE options pure gambling Accordi

POSCO repaid approximately $360 million in dollar-denominated bonds early through a debt tender offer on the 15th, reducing its interest cost burden. The bonds were 5.75% fixed-rate 5-year notes issued in 2023 with an original maturity date of January 2028. The early repayment addresses high-interes

According to Yonhapinfomax, on July 16, U.S. producer price inflation data weakened the dollar, with June PPI falling 0.3% month-over-month, below market expectations. Seoul foreign exchange dealers forecast the USD/KRW exchange rate could decline to the 1,480-won level as inflation concerns ease.

According to industry sources, POSCO repaid approximately $358 million of its dollar-denominated bonds on July 15 through a debt tender offer, ahead of the original 2028 maturity. The 5.75% fixed-rate bonds, issued in 2023 with a total issue size of $1 billion, were redeemed about 18 months early. T

According to NYDIG research cited by ChainCatcher, Bitcoin fell 13.4% in the second quarter of 2026, outpacing a 27.7% gain in the Nasdaq 100. Microstrategy's introduction of a "Digital Credit Capital Framework" authorizing the sale of approximately $1.25 billion in Bitcoin to cover capital

Larry Fink, CEO of Blackrock, stated in a July 15 CNBC interview that he is bullish on markets over the next 12 months, citing technology-driven productivity and margin expansion as key drivers. Fink attributed his outlook to companies using technology to reduce operating costs and generate

According to KB Financial Group, on July 15, the company established the KB AX Digital Asset Fund with a 100 billion won (approximately $77 million) scale. The fund aims to advance digital asset business and accelerate artificial intelligence transformation across the group. Major KB subsidiaries in

According to Bitget market data, Alibaba surged over 5% on July 16, leading gains in the Hang Seng Tech Index, which rose over 2%. The Hang Seng Index climbed 1.77% during the session.

According to ChainCatcher and The Wall Street Journal, the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) began live production trading of tokenized stocks and U.S. Treasuries on Wednesday, advancing its tokenization work from testing to actual operations. Nearly 40 financial institutions and

Natixis’ U.S. chief economist, Hodge, said that for the remainder of 2026, the Fed will prioritize inflation, but will not immediately pivot, with expectations that the pause will be extended. If the next two CPI prints come in above expectations, Warsh’s hawkish stance may be forced to raise rates. He emphasized that housing carries about 35% weight in the CPI, while wage growth is 3%–3.5%, which should help move toward the inflation target of 2% . At the same time, global de-dollarization and increased gold buying are driven mainly by uncertainty around U.S. policies.

According to Jefferies' latest semiconductor equipment report, the firm revises upward its global wafer fab equipment (WFE) market outlook, estimating the market to reach $152 billion in 2026, $200 billion in 2027, and $252 billion in 2028—a 66% growth rate from 2026 to 2028. If AI investments

According to BlockBeats, on July 16, the Bank of Korea signaled that uncertainties persist across three areas: the semiconductor industry, developments in the Middle East, and changes in the trade environment.

The Hang Seng Index opened 0.58% higher on July 16, while the Hang Seng Tech Index gained 0.15%. The semiconductor sector faced headwinds, with Zhaojiyun Innovation and Lansun Technology declining nearly 6% each, while Huahong Semiconductor fell over 3% and SMIC retreated over 2%. The news source i

According to The Washington Post, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent officially announced on July 15 that the U.S. Mint is set to produce a $1 gold-toned commemorative coin featuring a portrait of current President Trump on the obverse, to mark the United States’ 250th anniversary of nationhood (1776–2026). The Wall Street Journal clarified that the coin does not contain gold; its material is manganese brass, and its design is gold-colored. Coin design details: “1776–2026” and Trump’s portrai