Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

Korean edtech company Icecream Edu closed at 891 won on November 14, down 0.11%, as the stock remained below the 1000 won threshold that triggered a management stock designation on the 13th. The company faces dual regulatory warnings after falling below Korea Exchange's 20 billion won market cap

According to Korea Exchange, EdTech company IceCreamEdu's stock fell 0.11% to 891 won in the week ending August 14, breaching the 1,000 won threshold and triggering designation as a managed item on August 13. The company's market cap has declined to approximately 12.4 billion won. Once riding

According to Edaily, the Korean won is expected to consolidate in the early 1,400s next week as U.S. rate-hike expectations weaken while Japan's rate-hike timeline accelerates. The CME FedWatch tool shows the probability of the Federal Reserve holding rates steady at its September meeting has

Mirae Asset Securities recorded its highest-ever quarterly profit in Q2 2026 with net profit reaching 1.9052 trillion won, driven significantly by valuation gains from its SpaceX investment, yet saw 11 of 14 securities firms lower their target prices following the earnings announcement. The

According to MoneyToday, South Korea's stock market Advanced Decline Ratio (ADR) reached new highs on August 16, with the KOSPI ADR hitting 125.37% and KOSDAQ ADR reaching 117.64%, marking seven consecutive trading days above 100%. The surge indicates a rebalancing of buying and selling pressure

According to MoneyToday, Mirae Asset Securities reported record Q2 net profit of 1.9052 trillion KRW, up 90% quarter-over-quarter, on August 12. Pretax profit reached 2.5287 trillion KRW, up 86%. However, 11 of 14 brokerages lowered target prices following the earnings release, citing exposure to

KOSDAQ closed at 864.65 on the 14th, up 0.38%, while KOSPI closed at 6,977.94, up 2.42%, marking a performance shift between South Korea's two main stock markets. During August's first week (3-7), KOSDAQ posted a 10.98% gain - the highest among global major indices - but in the second week (10-14),

According to Korea Exchange and Union Infomacs, KOSPI surged 11.49% during the week of August 10-14, claiming the top spot for global index performance, while KOSDAQ rose 8.24% to second place. The shift follows a reversal in foreign investor flows, with overseas funds moving to net buying of 6.5741

Jane Street suffered losses of approximately $15 billion in July, according to disclosures to lenders. Despite the significant loss, the quantitative trading firm's year-to-date net trading income has exceeded $40 billion, surpassing its total earnings for 2025. To address the impact, Jane Street h

Bank Leumi, Israel's largest bank, has agreed with Galaxy Digital to launch cryptocurrency trading services for its customers starting in early 2027. The service will allow customers of both Bank Leumi and its mobile banking arm Pepper to buy, hold and sell bitcoin, ether and solana, marking the

According to announcements from Bank Leumi and Galaxy Digital, Israel's largest bank will launch cryptocurrency trading for retail customers starting early 2027, becoming the first Israeli bank to offer direct digital asset access through its banking infrastructure. The service will support

Short-selling balances in Korean stock markets increased despite recent market gains, according to data from the Korea Exchange on the 16th. As of the 11th, the KOSPI short-selling net balance reached 19.006 trillion

The South Korean government announced housing supply measures on August 13, and securities analysts stated on August 16 that mid-tier construction stocks would benefit from the policy. The government's plan includes supplying over 230,000 additional housing units in the capital region and

According to the Korea Exchange, as of August 11, South Korea's KOSPI net short holdings reached 19.006 trillion won, up 2.272 trillion won (14%) from end of July. KOSDAQ short holdings also jumped to 7.299 trillion won, a 32% month-end increase. This month, KOSPI and KOSDAQ indices have risen 6% an

According to SEC filings, Third Point LLC has exited its entire Nvidia position and reduced its Amazon shareholding by 9.8%, with remaining holdings at 1.8 million shares.

Berkshire Hathaway increased its Alphabet stake by 83% during the second quarter of 2026, investing approximately $17 billion in the Google parent company. The investment firm disclosed the position in its 13F filing after market close on August 14, 2026, bringing its total Alphabet holdings to

The United States and Canada are negotiating to avoid 50% tariffs on Canadian products set to take effect on August 19. President Donald Trump announced the tariffs, accusing Canada of systematically discriminating against American exports. Roughly $20 billion in annual Canadian exports spanning

US energy sector ETFs experienced $4 billion in outflows over a 65-day stretch ending in mid-August, marking the largest sustained outflow the sector has seen since mid-2025. The exodus represents a sharp reversal from March 2026, when energy ETFs attracted a record $5 billion in a single month

According to its 13F filing disclosed on August 14, Berkshire Hathaway increased its Alphabet stake by 83% during the second quarter of 2026, investing $17 billion to bring its total position to roughly 106 million shares worth $36.6B–$37.9B. About $10 billion of the new position came through a

The United States and Canada are nearing a deal to avert 50% tariffs on Canadian products set to take effect on August 19, according to recent negotiations. Roughly $20 billion in annual Canadian exports would be affected, spanning dairy, motor vehicles, and alcoholic beverages. Prime Minister