Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

APR surpassed AmorePacific and LG Household & Health Care in H1 operating profit. APR recorded 342.8 billion won in operating profit, compared to AmorePacific's 244.0 billion won and LG H&H's 210.6 billion won, according to disclosures filed with Korea's Financial Supervisory Service. The shift

According to Yonhap Infomax, on August 17, South Korea's top two listed convenience store operators delivered better-than-expected Q2 results. BGF Retail reported revenue of 2.4268 trillion won and operating profit of 84.9 billion won, up 6.0% and 22.3% year-over-year, respectively, beating market e

According to Korea's Financial Supervisory Service, APR reported operating profit of 342.8 billion won in the first half of 2026, surpassing Amorepacific (244 billion won) and LG Household & Health Care (210.6 billion won) for the first time. The company's operating margin reached 25.2%, more than d

Solidigm, SK Hynix's US subsidiary, may pursue a Nasdaq listing at 50 trillion won valuation with up to 10 trillion won in pre-IPO fundraising. This speculation has sparked debate among securities firms over the impact on SK Hynix shareholder value. SK Hynix clarified on the 5th that no decisions ha

According to the Financial Investment Association, South Korea's investor deposits (excluding derivatives margin) reached 100.07 trillion won as of August 13, rebounding following five consecutive trading days of gains through August 14. The deposits had hit a year-low of 97.93 trillion won on Augus

WTI crude oil futures gained 0.4% during early Asian trading on Monday, posting a modest advance in the morning session.

According to Gate market data, spot gold opened higher on Monday at $4,380.58 per ounce, while WTI crude oil rose to $81.66 per barrel.

According to Jin10, major currency pairs are set to be in focus on Monday, August 17, 2026.

According to CME Federal Reserve Watch data cited by Jin10, as of August 17, the probability that the Federal Reserve will maintain interest rates unchanged in September stands at 66.9%, with a 33.1% probability of a 25

According to half-year reports from 9 major South Korean brokerage firms filed on August 17, overseas stock trading commission revenue reached 1 trillion Korean won in Q2 2026 (April-June), marking a record high. Despite retail investors significantly reducing their positions in overseas markets, in

Nine major South Korean brokerages reported combined overseas stock commission revenue of 943.2 billion won in Q2 (April-June), a 60.7% increase from Q1's 586.8 billion won. The surge occurred despite South Korean retail investors net selling overseas stocks, driven by increased trading volumes as i

According to Bank of America, AI infrastructure expansion is now pushing inflation higher rather than suppressing it—contrary to long-held economic expectations. Data from the August 12 U.S. July Consumer Price Index (CPI) report revealed computer prices surged 3.5% in a single month, while

Korean corporations are increasingly turning to mezzanine financing as corporate bond borrowing costs rise, with cumulative issuance reaching 8.9 trillion won this year through the 14th of this month according to financial investment and investment banking industry data. The shift comes as 3-year tr

Bitcoin trades near $63,000, approximately half its record of $126,080, while XRP holds the $1 level after falling roughly 73% from its $3.65 peak. Four scheduled events this week could influence whether either token escapes its current range. Washington hosts a presidential crypto meeting on

According to Yonhapnews, as of August 14, Korean companies have issued 8.9 trillion won in mezzanine financing this year, including convertible bonds (CB), as rising corporate bond issuance costs push firms to seek alternative funding channels. Mezzanine financing, which combines characteristics of

Multiple South Korean semiconductor companies are preparing stock market listings as global AI semiconductor demand drives expanded production facility investment. Fabless design firms Hachitech and Global Technology, along with precision parts and equipment manufacturers Dongwon Parts and

Researchers Kim Jun-seok and Jang Geun-hyeok from Capital Market Institute reported on August 17 that KOSPI Stocks volatility hit 3.6% in H1 2026. The figure more than doubled the 1.4% recorded in the prior year period. The researchers attributed the surge to oil, interest rate, and FX volatility fr

Korean retail investors concentrated purchases on Japanese semiconductor supply chain stocks during August 3-14, according to Korea Securities Depository data released on August 16. Murata Manufacturing led net purchases at $5.319 million, followed by Tokyo Electron at $2.262 million and Arisawa Man

According to Daily Economy on August 16, Hachitech and three other South Korean semiconductor design and precision parts companies are pursuing IPO listings as global AI chip demand drives expansion in production equipment investment. Hachitech, a fabless firm specializing in sensor ICs including g

According to the Capital Markets Research Institute, South Korea's KOSPI daily volatility reached 3.6% in the first half of 2026, more than double the 1.4% recorded in the same period last year, Yonhapnews reported on August 17. The surge was driven by multiple factors: fluctuations in oil prices, i