Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

SK Hynix ADR debuted on Nasdaq on May 10 (local time), closing at $168.01, a 12.76% gain above the $149 IPO price and approximately 16% higher than the domestic share closing price of 2.18 million won when converted to Korean won. The premium reflects strong US investor demand for AI-related

South Korean retail investors net sold 493.3 billion won from domestic space industry ETFs between May 12 and June 10, following SpaceX's stock market debut on May 12 (local time). The outflows occurred after South Korean asset managers failed to secure SpaceX IPO shares for retail clients and the s

National Tax Service Commissioner Lim Gwang-hyun stated on July 12 that South Korea's tax revenue structure is excessively dependent on the semiconductor industry and a small number of large corporations, calling the creation of a Future Response Fund using surplus tax revenue essential. Lim made th

According to Jin10, Oman has notified the United States that Iran rejected proposed terms regarding the Strait of Hormuz. The diplomatic impasse prompted the U.S. to immediately resume sanctions and reinstate maritime blockade

Korean domestic stock funds experienced sharp losses during the week of July 3-9, with only 48 out of 3,861 funds posting gains as the average return fell 6.60%. The decline was driven by profit-taking in large-cap semiconductor stocks and a steep selloff in

Grayscale published research on July 9 identifying five blockchain networks positioned to support tokenized equity markets: Ethereum, Solana, BNB Chain, Avalanche, and Canton Network. Head of Research Zach Pandl outlined three phases of equity tokenization, with each phase benefiting different block

According to E-Daily and fund evaluator KG Zeroin, South Korean domestic stock funds averaged a -6.60% decline during the week of July 3-9, with only 48 out of 3,861 funds posting gains. Samsung Asset's 'KODEX 200 Long Kosdaq150 Short Futures' ETF led performance, rising 5.90% for the week by

According to CoinDesk, Nasdaq-listed bitcoin treasury company Empery Digital sold 1,400 bitcoin at an average price of $62,200 each on July 11, generating approximately $87.1 million in gross proceeds to fund a 25% stake in an AI data center project. The company announced earlier in July it would ne

Samsung Electronics reported second-quarter 2026 earnings that exceeded market expectations, with consolidated revenue of 171 trillion won and operating profit of 89.4 trillion won. However, analyst price targets have diverged sharply, ranging from 390,000 to 600,000 won per share. The gap

According to South Korea's financial investment sector on July 12, Chinese tourist arrivals surged 25%, lifting casino stocks including Paradise Casino and Lotte Tour Development. The rebound in foreign visitors, coupled with expanded visa-free policies for Chinese group tourists, is driving

According to the Korea Exchange, South Korean space-related exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have underperformed since SpaceX's debut on the New York Stock Exchange one month ago on June 12. As of July 10, the ETFs recorded an average return of -14%, with retail investors dumping approximately 500

According to Korea Exchange, as of July 12, the National Pension Fund and other public pension funds sold only 205.8 billion KRW net on the KOSPI market over eight trading days through July 10. This amounts to approximately 25.7 billion KRW per day, significantly lower than the widely anticipated ma

According to Lee Hyo-seop, director of the Financial Industry Division at Korea Capital Markets Institute, leverage-linked exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and excessive margin trading have intensified market volatility last month, with retail investors bearing the full burden of hedging costs.

Since May, foreign investors have been the largest buyers of inverse ETFs in South Korea's exchange-traded fund (ETF) market, according to Yonhapinfomax. Inverse ETFs are financial products designed to profit from stock index declines. Analysts attribute the surge in foreign demand partly to

US stocks investors will focus on second-quarter corporate earnings and June inflation indicators this week amid renewed US-Iran conflict. Trump declared the ceasefire memorandum of understanding with Iran ended, and US military conducted consecutive strikes on Iran, yet WTI August futures

E-Mart faces market scrutiny over potential adjustments to its 2026 sales forecast following the Starbucks Korea controversy. The retail giant originally projected consolidated sales of 29.3 trillion won for 2026 in February, but the unexpected crisis involving its subsidiary SCK Company has

According to Yonhap News, the U.S. and Iran escalated military conflict this week after President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire ended and U.S. forces conducted ongoing airstrikes. While both sides signaled continued hostility, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that "adhering to the

According to Korea Exchange, KOSPI fell 612.40 points (7.57%) to close at 7475.94 on July 10, down from 8088.34 the previous week. Foreign investors net sold 4.34 trillion Korean won, while retail traders and institutions net purchased 3.27 trillion and 832.5 billion won respectively. Analysts

Foreign investors in South Korea's exchange-traded fund market accumulated inverse ETFs as their largest holdings since May, with KODEX 200 Futures Inverse 2X and KODEX Inverse ranking first and third in net foreign purchase volume according to Yonhap Infomax ETF data. The pattern emerged

According to Jin10, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Navy announced early on July 12 that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed effective immediately and no vessels are permitted to transit. The closure announcement came hours after several ships attempted to navigate along routes not approved by Ir