Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

According to Korea Exchange, the KOSPI index surged to 7,109.57 during early trading on August 18, gaining 131.63 points or 1.89% as of 9:02 a.m., breaking through the 7,100 level. The index opened 149.83 points higher at 7,127.77 compared to the previous close. In contrast, the KOSDAQ showed

According to Jin10, M&G Investment increased holdings in Korean government bonds on August 18, citing overpriced interest-rate hikes in market pricing. The company's Asia fixed-income head Low Guan Yi noted that artificial intelligence gains have boosted tax revenues from Korean chip manufacturers a

According to Yonhap Infomax, on August 18, South Korea's KOSPI surged 2.15% to 7,127.77 points, breaking above the 7,000 level for the first time in recent trading as semiconductor stocks led market gains.

Nike (NYS:NKE) closed at $39.09 on the 17th (local time) on the New York Stock Exchange, down 4.03% from the previous day, as the global sports brand's stock decline continued to defy Wall Street's rebound expectations. Yahoo Finance reported that Nike stocks fell below the $40 level and are down 78

According to Peter Schiff, a long-time Bitcoin bear and gold advocate, Bitcoin's recent bounce presents a selling opportunity for long-term holders. Schiff identified $65,000 as a key resistance level, noting limited upside if breached and significant downside risk if the level breaks. He

According to Yonhap Infomax, Nike (NYSE: NKE) stock closed down 4.03% at $39.09 on Aug 17 (NY close). The stock has fallen 78% from its 2021 all-time high.

According to Newsfile, on August 18, Nasdaq-listed Zhibao Technology (ZBAO) completed a $154.7 million PIPE financing with investors paying the full amount in 2,380 Bitcoin (valued at $65,000 per BTC based on July 30 pricing). The financing issued 442 million PIPE units at $0.35 per unit, each

South Korean pension funds transferred 5.3 trillion won from banks to securities firms between late October 2024 and June 2025, according to data submitted by the Financial Supervisory Service to lawmaker Park Hong-bae. Securities firms recorded a net inflow of 4.2 trillion won during this period, w

According to Financial Supervisory Service data submitted to parliament, over 5.2 trillion Korean won flowed from banks to securities companies between October 2024 and June 2026 following the launch of retirement fund asset transfer rules. Securities firms recorded net inflows of 4.15 trillion won

Japan's 5-year government bond yield rose 2 basis points to 2.18% on August 18, marking a historic high. The increase reflects ongoing shifts in Japanese monetary policy and market expectations regarding interest rate

According to Mint, Microsoft, Salesforce, and ADP have expressed interest in acquiring Darwinbox, a human resources technology company. The three companies are reportedly in the process of evaluating the potential acquisition, though specific terms and valuations have not been

US 30-year Treasury yields surged to 5.31% intraday on August 17 (local time), marking the highest level since June 2007—approximately 19 years. This occurred despite growing expectations that the Federal Reserve would not raise interest rates further, as US retail sales fell 0.6% in July, the

Shares of Ocular Therapeutix (OCUL) and 4D Molecular (FDMT) closed higher on Monday. The gains followed rival EyePoint Pharmaceuticals (EYPT) reporting that its late-stage trial of DURAVYU, an experimental long-lasting eye implant for wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), missed its main g

According to NH Investment & Securities, the brokerage on August 18 cut SK Square's target price from 2.7 million won to 2.28 million won, maintaining a buy rating. The reduction reflects recent stock price declines in SK Hynix, which accounts for the majority of SK Square's net asset value. The

Shares of Ocular Therapeutics (OCUL) and 4D Molecular Therapeutics (FDMT) climbed on Monday after rival EyePoint Pharmaceuticals announced that its late-stage trial of DURAVYU, an experimental long-lasting eye implant for wet age-related macular degeneration, missed its primary efficacy goal. OCUL c

According to Jin10, Alphabet launched a multi-tranche Australian dollar bond offering on August 18, with one tranche having a 20-year maturity. The company aims to raise approximately AUD 5 billion (USD 3.6 billion), according to sources familiar with the matter. The fundraising comes after Alphabet

Lenovo Holding's subsidiary Julong New Materials disclosed H1 2026 results, with net profit of CNY 4.27 billion, up 165.68% year-over-year. Operating revenue reached CNY 53.66 billion, up 84.31% YoY, while basic earnings per share stood at CNY 0.32.

South Korea's Financial Services Commission repeatedly stated it underwent regulatory impact assessment by the Office for Government Policy Coordination for introducing single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs), but the coordination office confirmed it conducted no such regulatory impact a

Samsung Electronics' stock trajectory could follow the path of Apple, which long dominated as the number one company by market capitalization in the US stock market, according to an analysis by Hana Securities. On the 18th, Hana Securities researcher Lee Jae-man released a report titled 'What Will

On August 18, the Nikkei 225 Index opened down 375.98 points (0.54%), closing at 68,844.27 points.