Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

Kiwoom Securities analyst Ahn Ye-ha forecasted on August 12 that bond demand through bond ETFs and funds will gradually expand as South Korea's retirement pension market shifts from DB (defined benefit) to DC (defined contribution) and IRP (individual retirement pension) structures, driven by

According to Decrypt, eToro agreed to acquire U.S. online broker TradeZero for up to $231 million on August 12, 2026, comprising cash and up to 2.5 million newly issued Class A shares. TradeZero provides commission-free equities and options trading across the U.S., Canada, and international

According to Kiwoom Securities, retirement fund allocations in South Korea shifted significantly in Q2 2026, with DC (Defined Contribution) and IRP (Individual Retirement Pension) assets growing to 29.5% and 30% of total allocations respectively, while DB (Defined Benefit) plans declined to 40.5%.

Rakuten shares fell the most in six months today after the Japanese online shopping mall operator reported quarterly operating profit below analyst expectations.

According to its announcement on August 12, Leapmotor (09863) reported cumulative electric vehicle registrations in Italy reached 25,393 units during January-July 2026. The Leapmotor Lafa5 leads Italy's C-segment EV market, while the T03 continues strong sales in the pure electric and private

According to FX market data, the Canadian dollar eased from a two-month high as the US dollar preserved its weekly gains ahead of the US Consumer Price Index release. Market participants are closely monitoring inflation data that could influence currency

Workers aged 55 and older in the United States are leaving the labor market at an accelerating rate, driven by wealth generated from surging US stocks, according to Bank of America Securities analysis published on August 12. The labor force participation rate for this age group fell from 40.3% in

Reuters reported on Aug. 11, citing two people familiar with the matter, that Singapore-based fast-fashion e-commerce company Shein plans to launch its Hong Kong IPO as early as next Wednesday, Aug. 19, and has begun marketing the share offering to investors. Its target valuation is between $30 billion and $40 billion. If it ultimately falls within this range, it would be far below the peak valuation of $98.2 billion reached during its private financing round in 2022—a nearly 70% decline from it

According to Barron's, U.S. 10-year Treasury yields surged to 4.73% on Tuesday, approaching 18-month highs, while 30-year yields climbed to 5.275%, near pre-2008 crisis levels. Brent crude oil broke above $90 per barrel, marking its highest level since end-July, driven by heightened tensions in

Gate News: On August 12, 2026, at 14:00 (UTC+8), Gate announced that its Contract Stocks zone had launched eight perpetual contract products: CSOPSKHYNIX2L (CSOP SK Hynix Daily 2X Leveraged ETF), CSOPSAMSUNG2L (CSOP Samsung Electronics Daily 2X Leveraged ETF), SSPC (2X Daily Short SpaceX ETF), SPCH (2X Daily Long SpaceX ETF), GFS (GlobalFoundries), VST (Vistra Energy), OKTA (Okta), and OUST (Ouster). All trading pairs are settled in USDT. These contracts support 1x–20x leverage for both long and

Fundstrat's Mark Newton projects 2026 as a high-volatility, sector-rotation year rather than a single-direction bull or bear market, with late August emerging as a critical inflection point. Newton identifies the S&P 500's potential test of 7800 as completing a five-wave rally structure from

According to BlockBeats, on August 12, Korea Exchange triggered its KOSPI circuit breaker mechanism after KOSPI 200 index futures rose 5%, temporarily halting algorithmic buying for 5 minutes.

According to Mirae Asset Securities, the top 1% highest-earning investors on August 12 most actively purchased SK Hynix, which rose 4.28% to 1.486 million won as of 11am. Korea Kolmar and Silicon Mtech followed as the second and third most-bought stocks, surging 15.71% and 17.23% respectively,

According to Jin10, South Korea's 30-year government bond yield reached 4.67% on August 12, marking its highest level since the bond's introduction in 2012. The surge was driven by elevated oil prices, as regional tensions in the Middle East pressured energy markets, combined with weakening demand

According to Amazon's Q2 2026 earnings report, CEO Andy Jassy announced the company would increase 2026 capital expenditure to $220 billion from $200 billion, citing increased costs for AI infrastructure, data centers, and custom chips. Jassy stated the higher spending still falls short of meeting c

According to Guru Club, on August 12, China's SHIBOR (Shanghai Interbank Offered Rate) main tenors showed mixed movements. The overnight rate rose 1.32 basis points to 1.3712%, while the 7-day rate gained 0.41 basis points to 1.3981%. The 3-month rate remained flat at 1.4300%.

According to market sources, USD/JPY one-week option implied volatility rose for the second consecutive trading day on August 12 as traders positioned ahead of U.S. inflation data expected to shape Federal Reserve policy and dollar direction. Short-term put options trade at a premium to calls as

According to Jin10, Shanghai Gold traded at 955.49 yuan/gram on Wednesday (August 12) morning, 1.72 yuan/gram below the international gold price of 957.21 yuan/gram.

Samsung SDI is converting its battery joint venture with General Motors into a wholly-owned subsidiary, with Hana Securities analyst Kim Hyun-soo maintaining a target price of 667,000 won and a BUY rating on '12일' as the company shifts focus to Energy Storage Systems (ESS) production. The

According to Korean Economic TV and Hana Securities, Samsung SDI gained full control of its joint battery factory with General Motors on August 12 as the companies adjusted their North American strategy amid EV demand softness. The South Korean battery maker will convert portions of the facility to