Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

Borrowers in Korea face mounting interest payment burdens while savers benefit from higher deposit rates, as speculation grows that domestic rates may rise further after the Chuseok holiday following rate increases in the US and Japan. Self-employed business owners and mortgage holders are

AI companies reliant on debt face rising borrowing costs this week as Treasury yields climbed to their highest levels since 2007. The 10-year Treasury yield sits near 5.17%, up about 1 percentage point since the start of the year, forcing companies issuing debt to offer more attractive rates to

Deepwater Asset Management's Gene Munster projects that personalized artificial intelligence could generate operating income increases of 8% to 90% for Apple Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc., describing the potential financial impact as "numbers so large they're hard to believe." Munster's analysis

According to CNBC, Treasury yields climbed this week to their highest level since 2007, reaching 5.17%—up approximately 1 percentage point since the start of the year. The spike is raising borrowing costs for debt-heavy AI infrastructure companies, as JPMorgan Chase estimated in June that $4.1

According to Gene Munster of Deepwater Asset Management, personalized AI could become a major revenue source for Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Meta Platforms Inc. (META). In his analysis, if the companies capture modest paid tier adoption, operating income could increase by 8% to 90%—figures Munster

J.R. Global REIT received an audit opinion refusal from its external auditor on September 22 for its 14th fiscal year financial statements, triggering a delisting cause under Korea Exchange regulations. The auditor determined that significant uncertainty exists regarding the company's ability to

According to E-Daily, JR Global REIT received a qualified audit opinion from external auditors on September 22, citing significant uncertainty over the company's ability to continue operations. The audit rejection triggered a delisting provision under Korea Exchange rules. The company

AI big tech companies issued $257 billion in long-maturity corporate bonds through August 2024 to finance data center construction and AI infrastructure, according to analysis from Hana Securities. The issuance volume represents 1.6 times the $158 billion issued in all of 2023, with the

According to researchers at Hana Securities and the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, major technology and AI-related companies issued $257 billion in long-term corporate bonds through August 2026, marking a 1.6-fold increase compared to 2025's annual total of $158 billion. The issuance reflects

According to SanDisk fiscal Q4 2026 results announced on August 5, 2026, the company reported record fiscal 2026 revenue of $20.248 billion, up 175 percent year-over-year, with datacenter revenue reaching $5.153 billion and jumping 437 percent for the full year. The company posted a gross margin of

Listed Korean companies show widening K-shaped polarization in Q3 earnings estimate revisions over the recent 3 months from June 22 to September 22. Export-heavy conglomerates including HD Hyundai, SK, LS, and GS posted substantial upward estimate adjustments driven by global infrastructure

Korean brokerage firms maintain KOSPI upper targets between 8,000 and 9,000 for the second half, though some firms recently lowered their forecasts following increased market volatility after the July decline. The revised outlook reflects heightened external uncertainties including interest rates an

According to F&Guide, South Korea's stock market showed a sharp 'K-shaped' divergence in Q3 2026 earnings forecasts over the latest three-month period (June 22 – September 22). Export-focused conglomerates surged, with HD Hyundai's operating profit estimate jumping 54.4% to 3.12 trillion Korean

Riot Platforms repaid a $200 million credit facility from Coinbase Credit this week, releasing collateral held in custody. The Bitcoin miner finished paying the remaining principal and interest on Monday, according to a Friday filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The facility had b

Intel reported a GAAP net loss of $11.0 billion for the second quarter against $2.2 billion of non-GAAP net income, with almost the entire $13.2 billion gap attributed to a $12.5 billion mark-to-market loss on shares Intel owes the US government under the CHIPS Act Secure Enclave agreement. The

Palantir (PLTR) closed at $189.67 on September 25, 2026, up 5.9% over twelve months and 13.0% year-to-date, despite the company roughly doubling its revenue during that period. The stock's muted performance reflects a collapse in its price-to-sales multiple, which fell by approximately half as the b

According to Intel's SEC filings, the semiconductor company posted a net GAAP loss of $11.0 billion in Q2 2026 (ended June 27), despite posting non-GAAP net income of $2.2 billion, as a $12.5 billion mark-to-market loss on Escrowed Shares owed to the U.S. Department of Commerce under the CHIPS Act S

According to Bloomberg and Reuters surveys on September 27, economists expect U.S. non-farm employment to increase by approximately 90,000 to 100,000 in September, with unemployment rate remaining at 4.1% to 4.2%. Bloomberg forecasts August personal consumption expenditures to grow 0.5% month-over-m

According to Yuanta Securities and Kiwoom Securities, on September 23, the two South Korean brokerages released conflicting reports on Samsung Electronics with target prices diverging 1.8-fold. Yuanta raised its target to 630,000 won from 530,000 won (19% increase), while Kiwoom maintained its targe

According to The New York Times, reported on September 27, rising oil prices amid the Iran conflict have intensified Republican political pressure ahead of November midterm elections, prompting some GOP candidates to call for an end to the war. Gasoline prices have risen approximately 0.4 dollars