Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

Semiconductor materials stocks in South Korea are attracting investor attention as the valuation gap with equipment stocks widens significantly. Equipment stocks currently trade at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio (NTM PER) of approximately 23.6x, while materials stocks trade at

According to Reuters, the dollar reached a 16-month high against the euro on Sept. 29 in New York, with EUR/USD falling to 1.1312 intraday, the lowest level since May of the previous year. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) climbed 0.41% to 101.61, marking its highest point since late June. The dollar's s

According to the Korea Exchange, major South Korean defense companies staged a rebound on Sept 30 morning, with Hyundai Rotem trading up 1.60%, Hanwha Aerospace up 0.10%, and LIG Defense & Aerospace up 0.74%. However, key stocks remain significantly below all-time highs, with Hyundai Rotem

According to LS Securities on Sept. 30, South Korean semiconductor equipment manufacturers are trading at a 23.6x forward price-to-earnings multiple, compared to 13.2x for material suppliers, a 44% valuation gap significantly wider than the 14% difference recorded in Q3 2017. The disparity

According to Financial News, Hanwha Asset Management announced on September 30 that its PLUS 200 Covered Call Active ETF distributed 152 won per share for September, with a distribution yield of 2.05% based on the closing price on September 28.

Korea Financial Investment Association selected 10 securities firms on the 30th to provide baseline data for calculating Certificate of Deposit (CD) yields for the next year starting October 1. iM Securities was newly included among the selected firms, while Cape Securities was excluded from the

According to an announcement on September 29, Benmo Technology (06731) signed a strategic partnership agreement with China Rare Earth Group Innovation Technology Co., Ltd. (CREIT Innovation) to develop rare-earth permanent magnet materials and direct-drive motor systems for robotics. Under the agre

The USD/JPY currency pair declined 0.4% during today's trading session, extending its downward movement.

According to JPMorgan Chase analysts on Sept 29, Middle East crude oil shipments have recovered to 98% of pre-war levels, reaching 17.5 million barrels per day. Refined products including diesel and gasoline flows stood at 3 million barrels daily, equivalent to 58% of pre-war volumes. Analysts

According to RatingDog, China's manufacturing PMI reached 52.1 in September, exceeding the forecast of 51.6 and rising from the previous month's 51.5.

According to RatingDog, China's composite PMI for September stood at 52.4, up 0.3 points from 52.1 in the previous month, indicating a continued expansion in economic activity.

Cboe Global Markets (Chicago Board Options Exchange) and S&P Dow Jones Indices announced that they will extend their exclusive licensing agreement for S&P 500 Index options through 2051, for a 25-year term. Under the extended agreement, the two parties also explicitly identified tokenized options contracts as a potential area for collaboration, but did not disclose the blockchain technology, settlement model, trading structure, or launch date. Key Terms of the 25-Year Cboe–S&P DJI Licensing Agre

According to Zhitong Finance, Momenta (06880) announced on September 24 a global strategic partnership with Shenlong Technology to jointly develop advanced autonomous driving systems for Peugeot and Jeep vehicles, with deployment planned for China, Europe, and other global markets under the

IBK Asset Management launched the 'IBK Korea-US Representative Companies TOP2+Bond Hybrid 50 Active ETF' on the 22nd, according to an announcement on the 30th. The hybrid active exchange-traded fund invests in leading companies in Korea and the United States while incorporating short-term bonds to r

Morgan Stanley lowered its price target for global semiconductor equipment maker Applied Materials (NAS:AMAT) from $642 to $563 while maintaining an Overweight rating, according to The Street on the 30th. The adjustment came despite the firm raising its 2027 revenue forecast to $50.7 billion and

According to The Street, Morgan Stanley on September 30 lowered its price target for semiconductor equipment maker Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT) from $642 to $563, while maintaining its "equal-weight" rating. The bank raised its 2027 full-year revenue forecast to $50.7 billion and adjusted

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia's August trimmed mean inflation rose 3.6% year-over-year on Wednesday, meeting market expectations. Monthly core inflation stood at 0.2%, below the forecast of 0.3%. The Reserve Bank of Australia aims to keep inflation at the midpoint of

According to China's Ministry of Commerce, Brazilian beef imports have reached 100% of the quota set under the safeguard measure as of September 29, 2026. Starting October 1 at 00:00, beef imported from Brazil will face an additional 55% tariff on top of the currently applicable tariff rate, as

NH Investment & Securities expanded its stock compensation services through a partnership with Quotalab platform, providing integrated management for RSU (Restricted Stock Units) and RSA (Restricted Stock Awards). From January through approximately 7 months, the firm delivered 70 billion won in stoc

Crypto asset management firm Bitwise announced on September 29 that the Bitwise NEAR ETF had officially begun trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE Arca), making it the first spot NEAR exchange-traded product (ETP) in the U.S. market. NRR has an expense ratio of 0.75% and includes staking functionality operated by Bitwise’s in-house institutional-grade staking team. NRR’s Product Structure: 0.75% Expense Ratio, Staking by Bitwise’s In-House Institutional-Grade Team, 5% Annualized Target N