Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

According to Newsis, on July 11, South Korea's KOSDAQ market has expanded significantly since its launch in 1996, with listed companies growing from 343 to 1,819. However, the index has declined rather than grown, retreating to levels from 10 months ago. This marks a fundamental divergence between m

According to Korea Exchange, 17 new IPOs listed on South Korea's domestic markets in the first half of 2026, a 55.3% decline from 38 companies in the same period last year. Fundraising fell to 1.13 trillion Korean won from 2.21 trillion won, down 48.7%, while market capitalization of new listings dr

According to ZhiTong Finance, Hang Seng Index futures (July contract) closed at 24,238 points, up 80 points or 0.331%, with a premium of 63 points on July 11.

Kiwoom Asset Management launched bond-hybrid exchange-traded funds (ETFs) designed to maximize equity exposure within Korean retirement pension accounts, which currently restrict risky asset allocation to 70% under existing regulations. On the 7th, the firm introduced the 'KIWOOM US Space Tech

Korean retail investor deposits in brokerage accounts fell to 107.1279 trillion won on July 9, marking the lowest level since February 20 when deposits stood at 104.1291 trillion won, according to the Korea Financial Investment Association. The decline followed eight consecutive trading days of

According to the Korea Exchange on July 10, Kiwoom Investment Asset Management launched the "Kiwoom SpaceTech Hybrid 50" ETF on July 7, allocating 50% to SpaceX and Rocket Lab stocks and 50% to domestic short-term bonds. The move comes as hybrid bond ETFs—which can occupy 100% of retirement

According to Korea Financial Investment Association, investor deposits on the Korean stock exchange fell to 107.1 trillion won on July 9, marking the lowest level in five months. The decline comes as the KOSPI index has faced volatility, falling to around 7,063 intraday after reaching a record

According to an internal Meta memo reviewed by Reuters, Bank of America Securities analyst Justin Post on July 10 maintained a Buy rating and $835 price target for Meta Platforms (META), citing significantly reduced AI infrastructure construction costs. BofA originally estimated Meta's AI

SK Hynix began trading on Nasdaq on July 10 with strong investor demand, closing at $168.49 per ADR, up 13.1% from the $149 offering price. The South Korean memory chipmaker raised $26.507 billion through the ADR offering, the largest ever by this method and the second-largest capital raise in the

The US dollar rose slightly on the 10th as US Treasury yields climbed following Japanese Finance Minister Katayama Satsuki's statement encouraging the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) to increase domestic asset investments, while President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the US

According to Yonhap Infomax, the dollar-yen rate fell to 161.737 yen on July 10 afternoon (U.S. Eastern Time), down 0.411% from the prior close of 162.404 yen. Japan's Finance Minister Katayama Satsuki stated that encouraging domestic asset investments for households and pension funds, including the

According to Yonhap Infomax, on July 10 as of 4 p.m. ET, the dollar-yen exchange rate fell to 161.737 yen, down 0.667 yen (0.411%) from the previous New York close of 162.404 yen. The U.S. dollar index (DXY) rose slightly to 100.963, up 0.010 points (0.010%). The yen faced downward pressure

According to Guru Club, WTI crude oil futures settled at $71.41 per barrel on July 11, down $0.67 or 0.93%. Brent crude oil futures settled at $76.01 per barrel, declining $0.29 or 0.38%.

Korea Investment & Trust Management launched the 'ACE K방산TOP5+' ETF on the 7th at the Korea Exchange. The exchange announced this on the 11th. The passive ETF invests in 10 Korean defense companies, allocating 80% to top 5 holdings with individual stock caps at 20% and a 0.45% annual fee. The launch

President Donald Trump refused to sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a bipartisan housing bill that passed the House and Senate in June, but the legislation is set to become law without his signature under a constitutional process. The bill includes a provision barring the Federal Reserve

According to Korea Exchange, Korea Investment Trust Management listed the ACE K Defense TOP5+ ETF on the Korean stock exchange on July 7. The product is a passive ETF that invests in 10 defense industry-related companies listed on South Korea's domestic stock market, with an annual expense ratio

The Bank of Korea's Monetary Policy Committee is expected to raise the base rate at its July regular meeting, but Samsung Securities researcher Kim Ji-man stated that the tightening itself may struggle to drive bond yield increases. Kim noted in a July meeting preview report that if the monetary

The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) gained 0.1% on Friday (July 10), closing at 100.96, with a weekly advance of approximately 0.1%. Markets continued to weigh inflation dynamics and their impact on Fed policy against rising geopolitical risks, as the largest U.S.-Iran military escalation since a

According to Yonhap Infomax, the US 10-year Treasury yield rose to 4.5680% on July 10, with the 2-year yield climbing to 4.2080%. The yield curve flattened to 36 basis points. Market sentiment shifted after President Trump declared an end to the ceasefire with Iran on Truth Social, stating that

According to a Samsung Securities preview report on July 11, the Bank of Korea's monetary policy committee is expected to raise its benchmark rate in its July meeting, but the central bank's guidance could limit bond yield gains if it appears less hawkish than market expectations. The report noted t