Retail Investors Hit Hard by Market Drop as Margin Debt Halves in a Month ◆Ajou Economic News▷"Retail investors hit hard by market drop"…margin debt falls by half in a month- According to the Korea Financial Investment Association, as of July 23, the margin debt for securities trading was recorded at 9.454 trillion won. This marks the first time margin debt has fallen below 10 trillion won since April 23, when it was 9.966 trillion won.- The recent fluctuations in the stock market have led investors to increase their cash holdings rather than engage in aggressive trad July 28, 2026

SK Hynix ADR Falls 7.44% Amid Concerns Over CXMT's IPO SK Hynix's American Depositary Receipts (ADR) fell over 7% due to heightened competition concerns following the IPO of Chinese memory chipmaker Changxin Memory Technologies (CXMT) and weakened investor sentiment linked to Nvidia.On July 27, SK Hynix's ADR closed at $143.02, down $11.50 (7.44%) from the previous trading day. This marked the first time the stock price fell below its IPO price of $149, set on July 10.The stock opened at $159.61 and briefly rose to $164.30, gaining over 6% at one po July 28, 2026

Yemen Foreign Minister: Houthis Attempting Iranian-Style Maritime Blockade in Bab-el-Mandeb The Iran-aligned Houthi movement is attempting to control international shipping through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a critical passage in the Red Sea, according to criticism from Yemen's government.On July 27, Yemen's Foreign Minister, Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, told reporters that the Houthis are mimicking Iran's strategy of controlling the Strait of Hormuz in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.Bin Mubarak pointed out that the international community's tepid response to years of Houthi attacks on commercial July 28, 2026

Trump Presses for Interest Rate Cuts Ahead of FOMC Meeting President Donald Trump reiterated his call for interest rate cuts just one day before the Federal Reserve's monetary policy meeting. On July 27, during a flight to Michigan aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters, "Interest rates need to go down," adding that "the U.S. should have the lowest interest rates in the world." He argued that the current interest rate level in the U.S. is excessively high, citing countries with lower rates. Trump also claimed that lowering rates could boost the U.S. July 28, 2026

Zelensky Warns Russia May Mobilize Up to 500,000 Troops After September Elections Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Russia could issue an additional mobilization order for up to 500,000 troops following the upcoming September elections. He also reiterated the possibility of 30,000 North Korean troops being deployed to Russia.In an interview with Sky News on July 27, Zelensky cited reports from Ukrainian intelligence, saying, "Russian President Vladimir Putin has no intention of stopping the war." He projected that Russia might mobilize between 300,000 and July 28, 2026

Netanyahu Expedites Approval for International Forces to Enter Gaza Ahead of Trump Meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expedited the approval process for the entry of International Stabilization Forces (ISF) into the Gaza Strip in an effort to facilitate a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. According to Israel's Channel 12 on July 27, the White House was initially not enthusiastic about a meeting with Netanyahu and conveyed to Israeli officials that he must present visible diplomatic achievements before visiting Washington. In response, Netanyahu reportedly br July 28, 2026

Consumer Confidence in Rising Home Prices Hits Highest Level in Nearly Five Years Consumer expectations for rising home prices have reached their highest level in nearly four years and ten months.According to the Bank of Korea's 'Consumer Trend Survey' released on July 27, the Home Price Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI) rose by 7 points to 127 in July, marking the highest level since September 2021 (128). This increase is attributed to ongoing rises in apartment sales and rental prices, particularly in Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province.Lee Heung-hoo, head of the Bank July 28, 2026

Trump Signals Possibility of Iran Deal, Warns of Military Action if Talks Fail President Donald Trump indicated that negotiations with Iran are underway, suggesting a potential agreement. However, he warned that military action against Iran would resume if talks collapse.On July 27, during a flight to Michigan aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters, "We are having very good discussions with Iran," adding, "There is a pretty good chance something will happen."He stated, "It would be a good thing if an agreement is reached," but cautioned, "If not, we can go back to what July 28, 2026

South Korean President Lee and Brazilian President Lula Discuss 'Better Lives for More People' During a summit in Brasília, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva focused on the theme of "better lives for more people." Both leaders share a background as former child laborers, having faced challenges in the workplace and political struggles. President Lula lost his left pinky finger while working in a metal factory at age 19, while President Lee also suffered an arm injury during his youth. On July 27, during his state visit to Brazil, Pres July 28, 2026

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez Returns Home After Trump Pardon Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former president of Honduras, returned to his home country after serving a 45-year sentence in the United States for drug trafficking. His return was made possible by a pardon from former President Donald Trump.According to Al Jazeera and the Associated Press, Hernandez arrived at Palmerola International Airport near Tegucigalpa on July 26, where he was welcomed by supporters from his National Party and family. This marks his return after more than four years since be July 28, 2026