Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

The USD/KRW exchange rate traded at 1338.0 won as of 9:06 AM on October 8 in the Seoul foreign exchange market, down 2.4 won from the previous trading day's close, as dollar selling by export companies offset dollar strength driven by eurozone fiscal concerns. Overnight, the dollar index

According to News1, on October 8, LG Energy Solution reported third-quarter operating profit of 756 billion Korean won, up 25.7% year-over-year, with revenue reaching 9.6434 trillion won, a 59% increase and the highest quarterly figure to date. The stock rose 4.09% to 407,000 won in morning

As of October 7, South Korea's three foreign casino operators—Paradise, Lotte Tour Development, and GKL—hit year-to-date lows, declining 28.91%, 20.95%, and 16.67% respectively in the second half of 2026. Paradise closed at 9,810 Korean won, Lotte Tour at 11,280 won, and GKL at 8,600 won. The

According to News1, on October 8, USD/KRW traded at 1,338 won, down 2.4 won from the previous close, as South Korean semiconductor exporters increased dollar selling amid global currency movements. The Dollar Index rose 0.42% to 102.28 overnight, driven by concerns over French fiscal stability and U

KKR stated on the 8th that Korean corporate reform presents a growing investment opportunity as AI-driven semiconductor earnings growth enhances the appeal of Korean stocks. Henry McVay, KKR's Global Macro and Asset Allocation Head and Chief

LG Energy Solution posted Q3 preliminary revenue of 9.6434 trillion won, up 59.0% year-over-year, and operating profit of 756 billion won, up 25.7%, the company announced October 8. The Korean stocks battery maker's profit more than doubled the 339.3 billion won analyst consensus due to expanded

Samsung Asset Management announced on the 8th that it will host the 'Samsung Kodex ETF Investment Webinar' on December 12 at 6 PM via YouTube live broadcast, focusing on 2027 market outlook and ETF investment strategies in a high-interest-rate environment. The webinar is part of 'Korea Premium

According to KKR's Global Macro and Asset Allocation head Henry McVey in an October 8 investment report, South Korean corporate reform has emerged as a significant investment opportunity, complemented by AI-driven semiconductor growth. McVey noted that South Korea warrants greater attention for

According to News 1, South Korea's KOSPI index fell 0.74% to 6,753.46 on the morning of October 8, with foreign investors selling 284.3 billion won worth of shares. Samsung Electronics reported third-quarter operating profit of 10.74 trillion won, up 782.5% year-over-year and exceeding market

According to Financial News, Samsung Asset Management announced on October 8 that it will host an ETF investment webinar on October 12 at 6 p.m. via YouTube Live, with the theme "2027 Market Outlook and ETF Investment Strategy." The webinar, part of Korea Premium Week, will feature presentations

According to Jin10, major global stock indices closed lower on October 7. European markets led declines, with Italy's FTSE MIB index falling 2.44% to close at 50,011.50, while Spain's IBEX 35 dropped 1.63% and Germany's DAX 30 fell 1.26%. In Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index declined 0.62% to 24,130

According to Alternative.me, the Crypto Fear and Greed Index dropped to 64 on October 8, indicating the market remains in a greedy state. The index fell from 71 yesterday, yet both readings indicate greed

Hyundai Motor Securities upgraded Kakao Games to 'buy' from 'neutral' and raised its target price to 13,000 won from 11,000 won, citing new game releases and recovery in South Korea's mobile MMORPG market. Analyst Choi Seung-ho stated the upgrade reflects Kakao Games' preparation of two new mobile M

Shinhan Asset Management's SOL Global DRAM Semiconductor Plus ETF recorded the highest individual investor net buying among newly listed semiconductor ETFs in the second half on its listing day. According to the Korea Exchange, individual investors net purchased approximately 5.8 billion won of the

According to Yonhapnews, Hyundai Motor and Kia shares fell on October 8 morning, with Hyundai down 2.90% to 326,250 Korean won and Kia declining 1.92% to 107,500 won at 9:28 a.m. Hyundai briefly dropped 3.13% earlier in the session. Analysts at Korea Investment Securities attributed the declines to

Seoul apartment monthly rent reached 52.3% in August, surpassing jeonse for the first time per Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport data. The shift stems from renters recognizing opportunity costs, as KOSPI index gains of 184.98% from December 2024 to September significantly outpaced

According to DS Investment & Securities, the brokerage raised its target price for Samsung SDI to 940,000 Korean won from 840,000 Korean won on October 8, maintaining a 'buy' rating. The upgrade reflects expectations for improved earnings driven by energy storage system (ESS) growth and

According to Yonhapnews, the Korea Exchange announced on October 8 that it will suspend delisting procedures for listed companies that fail to meet minimum market capitalization requirements, citing a court order. The announcement triggered sharp gains in related stocks during morning trading,

According to Hyundai Motor Securities, the brokerage upgraded Kakao Games to Buy from Neutral on October 8 and raised its price target to 13,000 KRW from 11,000 KRW. Analyst Choi Seung-ho expects the gaming company to achieve profitability next year, with operating profit of 96 billion KRW against r

According to Peptron's official statement released on October 8, the company's technology evaluation period with global pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly for the SmartDepot platform ended on October 7, with no subsequent commercialization contract reached. The Seoul-listed biotech firm's shares fell to