Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

South Korea's KOSPI index rose 2.71% last week to close at 7,080.92 on September 23, according to the Korea Exchange. This week, markets will focus on key U.S. economic data and corporate earnings: the August PCE price index and September jobs report (scheduled for September 30 and October 2

According to Korea Exchange, Korean game stocks' trading volume plummeted in the second half of 2026. The KRX Game TOP10 Index constituents' daily average trading volume dropped to 93.58 billion won through September 23, down 46% from 173.37 billion won in H1. Major players saw steeper declines:

According to Koscom, Mirae Asset's TIGER S&P 500 Target Daily Covered Call ETF posted a one-year return of 13.59% as of September 23, 2026. The ETF reduces its call option selling ratio to approximately 10% of assets, allowing investors to capture roughly 90% of S&P 500 upside while generating

According to Korea Exchange on September 27, KONEX daily average trading volume hit a record low of 1.1 billion won (year-to-date through September 23), marking the lowest level since the government launched KONEX market activation efforts in 2015. Only one KONEX-listed company successfully

South Korea's National Pension Service recently ordered asset management firms handling its funds to strengthen internal controls and closely monitor employee stock trading, following front-running allegations at Samsung Active Asset Management. The directive came after the Financial Supervisory Ser

According to South Korean financial industry sources, the National Pension Fund issued internal control reinforcement directives on September 27 to delegated asset managers following front-trading allegations involving fund managers' exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The directive, communicated

High-net-worth investors in South Korea sold Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix common stocks while purchasing Samsung Electronics preferred shares during the period up to the 10th of this month, according to data from four securities firms. The trading pattern reflects profit-taking on

Foreign investors' net purchases of US stocks and investment funds reached $942 billion in the 12 months through July, the highest level since the US Treasury began tracking the data in 1985, according to a Financial Times report. The surge was driven by strong US market performance, with the

Global financial market institutions are using tokenized U.S. Treasuries and money market funds as trading collateral for institutional investors, according to data from asset tokenization platform RWA.xyz as of the 27th. Tokenized Treasury and Treasury-focused MMF products have a circulation

NextTrade, South Korea's alternative trading system (ATS), saw its market share fall to single digits after the Korea Exchange launched its competing after-market service. During the 8 trading days from the 14th to 23rd, NextTrade's average daily market share based on trading volume dropped to 9.10%

Three Samsung-affiliated asset management firms will open a joint office in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province on October 12, where the National Pension Service (NPS) Fund Management Headquarters is located. Samsung Asset Management, Samsung Active Asset Management, and Samsung SRA Asset Management will

According to data from four major South Korean brokerages, high-net-worth investors increased purchases of Samsung Electronics preferred shares through September 10, with the stock ranking in the top two positions by net buying volume at two of the firms. The move contrasts sharply with retail inves

According to Korea Exchange data released on September 27, from September 1-23, foreign investors purchased 1.28 trillion won worth of SK Square, SK Innovation, and Korean Air shares, while retail investors sold 1.34 trillion won of the same stocks. SK Square saw the largest foreign buying at 739.4

According to asset tokenization data platform RWA.xyz, as of September 27, tokenized U.S. Treasury products and money market funds have reached a circulating value of $14.94 billion. BlackRock's BUIDL and Franklin Templeton's FOBXX are leading examples. Institutional investors can deposit BUIDL

According to South Korea's fiscal authorities and experts, the government faces a policy trilemma as projected excess tax revenue reaches 60 trillion won for 2026, with year-end inflation climbing to 3.1% in August. The country's central bank has been raising interest rates to combat price

According to South Korea's financial investment sector, NextTrade's market share dropped to 9.1% on average during the Korea Exchange's aftermarket trading period (September 14-23), down from 10.64% before the launch (September 1-11). Trading volume fell 13.7% to 95.67 million shares daily, while tr

South Korea's Ministry of Economy and Finance finalized a revised national tax revenue estimate on the 22nd of this month, projecting collections will exceed the March supplementary budget forecast by over 60 trillion won this year. The upward revision stems from a semiconductor industry boom that d

On September 26, BASF confirmed it is in exploratory talks with RAG-Stiftung and Evonik Industrial Group regarding a potential acquisition of Evonik. The outcome and timeline of these negotiations remain

According to the financial investment industry, South Korean securities companies are rapidly forming strategic alliances on September 27 to prepare for the commercialization of tokenized securities next year. Mirae Asset acquired a 97.15% stake in Digital X (operator of Korbit exchange) in July,

According to South Korea's Ministry of Economy and Finance, national tax revenue for 2026 was revised upward by more than 60 trillion won on September 27, bringing the full-year forecast to the latter half of 470 trillion won from the prior estimate of 415.4 trillion won made in March. The