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  • NH Investment & Securities Lowers HYBEs Target Price Amid Market Volatility
    NH Investment & Securities Lowers HYBE's Target Price Amid Market Volatility NH Investment & Securities has lowered its target price for HYBE from 300,000 won to 270,000 won, citing deteriorating investor sentiment due to increased market volatility. The firm maintained its 'buy' rating.Lee Hwa-jung, a researcher at NH Investment & Securities, stated, "Despite the earnings surprise, concerns over profitability due to the increased share of concert revenue have led to an excessive drop in stock prices. This overlooks the record-high growth in overall revenue." She explained that the decline in profitability is simply a result of changes in the revenue mix.Lee noted, "The expected price-to-earnings ratio (PER) for this year is around 19 times, which is historically undervalued. The rapid growth of the fandom for NewJeans and the expansion of global music sales centered around BTS and Cat's Eye will be long-term growth drivers." She added that the current situation is favorable for bottom-fishing investments.HYBE's consolidated revenue for the second quarter of this year reached 1.4 trillion won, a 106% increase compared to the same period last year, while operating profit surged 159% to 170.9 billion won.Lee attributed the strong performance to the success of BTS concerts, the expansion of merchandise sales, and the growth in music streaming, stating, "The overall increase in both unit prices and demand across revenue sources has further strengthened the long-term growth potential."The concert segment recorded its highest revenue ever at 647.7 billion won, driven by rising ticket prices and sales volume. Concerts accounted for 45% of total revenue, significantly exceeding the previous estimate of 38%.While the increased share of concert revenue, which has a higher cost ratio than other revenue sources like music and merchandise, has put some pressure on overall profitability, Lee emphasized that the economies of scale from overwhelming revenue growth have offset this, maintaining a solid contribution to absolute profits.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-29 08:30:00
  • KB Securities Lowers Hanwha Systems Target Price Despite Strong Q2 Performance
    KB Securities Lowers Hanwha Systems Target Price Despite Strong Q2 Performance KB Securities announced on July 29 that it has lowered its target price for Hanwha Systems from 120,000 won to 85,000 won, despite the company reporting strong second-quarter results that exceeded market expectations. The adjustment reflects anticipated declines in profitability for the second half of the year and recent market volatility. However, the investment rating remains 'buy' due to the company's long-term growth potential.In a report, analyst Jeong Dong-ik stated, "The consolidated results for the second quarter showed sales of 1.1176 trillion won and operating profit of 103.7 billion won, surpassing market expectations by 18.3% and 76.3%, respectively."He further explained that the defense sector contributed significantly to the improved performance, with high-margin exports such as the Cheongung-II surface-to-air missile multifunction radar to the United Arab Emirates and the K2 tank fire control system to Poland being recognized as revenue in the second quarter.Additionally, domestic sales from the Ulsan-class frigate and KF-21 fighter jet radar also contributed to the positive results. The reduction in operating losses at the U.S. shipyard, from 46.6 billion won in the previous quarter to 19.2 billion won this quarter, also aided in improving operating profit.However, Jeong predicts a slight decline in profitability for the second half of the year. He noted, "Despite seasonal factors and increased sales due to delivery schedules, a drop in operating profit margin is inevitable. This is expected as significant investments in the development of various radars, laser weapons, unmanned surface vessels, and space-related technologies will increase substantially."He anticipates that the overall operating profit margin, which was 7.2% in the first half, will fall to around 3.4% in the second half.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-29 08:30:00
  • Trump Calls U.S.-South Korea Alliance a Pillar of Peace in Indo-Pacific
    Trump Calls U.S.-South Korea Alliance a Pillar of Peace in Indo-Pacific President Donald Trump marked the 73rd anniversary of the Korean War armistice by describing the U.S.-South Korea alliance as a pillar of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, vowing to defend freedom against communist threats.The White House released a message from President Trump on July 27, recognizing the contributions of veterans on the anniversary of the armistice.In the message, Trump stated, "The United States and South Korea remain a steadfast alliance, forged through shared sacrifice and an unwavering love for freedom, even more than 70 years after the war ended." He emphasized that this bond serves as a foundation for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, reiterating America's solemn commitment to stand with allies across Asia against forces of evil and oppression.Trump also honored the courage and dedication of American veterans who fought and sacrificed their lives to ensure that the people of South Korea could enjoy freedom. He noted that the war began on June 25, 1950, when North Korean forces invaded South Korea, prompting the U.S. to rally a coalition of 22 nations to halt the spread of communism.He remarked on the resilience of U.S. troops who endured harsh conditions while defending the front lines against fierce attacks from North Korean and Chinese forces, stating, "South Korea emerged from the brink of conquest as a proud and independent nation."Trump highlighted that the U.S.-South Korea alliance, built on these sacrifices, underpins security not only on the Korean Peninsula but throughout the entire Indo-Pacific region. He reaffirmed America's resolve to continue standing with South Korea and other Asian allies against threats to global peace."Communist ambitions are once again raising their heads in the West, but our resolve will never waver," Trump said. "Communism is a fierce enemy of free people worldwide, and our administration will confront this threat with unwavering strength, defending freedom both at home and abroad."He quoted the inscription on the Korean War Veterans Memorial, stating, "Freedom is not free," and expressed respect for the veterans who delivered the precious gift of freedom and sovereignty to millions of South Koreans.This year's message notably did not mention Trump's personal diplomatic efforts with North Korea, which were highlighted in last year's message. In 2025, he emphasized being the first sitting U.S. president to step into North Korean territory during his first term. He also discussed maintaining maximum pressure and sanctions to lead negotiations for North Korean denuclearization, the release of American detainees, and the repatriation of U.S. military remains.Additionally, this year's message omitted references to the "peace through strength" foreign policy, the commitment to defend the Korean Peninsula, and promises to rebuild the military and support veterans. Instead, it focused more on the strategic role of the U.S.-South Korea alliance in the Indo-Pacific and a global anti-communism message.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-29 08:27:00
  • Hwang Jae-kyun Shows Off Dramatic Weight Loss and Long Hair
    Hwang Jae-kyun Shows Off Dramatic Weight Loss and Long Hair Former baseball player and current broadcaster Hwang Jae-kyun has recently shared updates about his life.On July 28, Tving Sports posted a video titled 'Chuno Appears on Tving' on social media.In the video, Hwang Jae-kyun appeared with his long hair tied back. When the production team remarked, 'You look just like Jang Hyuk today,' Hwang jokingly responded, 'I need to go catch someone from Chuno.'When asked how long he plans to grow his hair, he replied, 'I’m growing it until I can tie it up. I want to keep it long until I stop getting comments telling me to cut it.'In response, netizens expressed concern, commenting, 'Is he sick?' and 'He has lost so much weight. He needs to take care of his health.'Meanwhile, Hwang Jae-kyun retired from professional baseball last year.At that time, he stated through his team, 'I received a good offer from KT, but after much consideration, I decided to retire.' He added, 'Thanks to the fans who have always supported me passionately, I was able to play as a professional for 20 years.'He reflected, 'I enjoyed the greatest moment of winning the Korean Series and had the honor of representing my country in various international competitions like the Olympics and Asian Games. I want to be remembered as a player who consistently performed well without major injuries throughout my professional career. I would like to express my gratitude to my family, coaches, teammates, and the teams I have been a part of.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-29 08:27:00
  • SK hynix rewrites record books, but misses lofty Q2 profit forecasts
    SK hynix rewrites record books, but misses lofty Q2 profit forecasts SEOUL, July 29 (AJP) - SK hynix rewrote the record books in the second quarter as booming demand for artificial intelligence memory chips drove another quarter of historic earnings, though operating profit fell short of lofty market expectations. Operating profit for the April-June period came to 60.54 trillion won, up 61 percent from 37.61 trillion won recorded in the previous quarter. The figure fell short of the market consensus of approximately 64.1 trillion won, according to financial data provider FnGuide. Revenue reached 79.32 trillion won, up 51 percent from 52.58 trillion won posted in the first quarter. The world's second-largest memory chipmaker attributed the performance to solid demand for high-value AI memory products, including High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) chips and enterprise solid-state drives (eSSDs). Operating margin came in at 76 percent, compared with 72 percent in the previous quarter, reflecting a richer product mix centered on premium AI memory products. Net profit for the quarter totaled 93.92 trillion won, compared with 40.35 trillion won in the January-March period. The company said it expects structural growth in AI memory demand to continue as major technology companies expand investments in AI infrastructure. It added that it has completed long-term supply agreement negotiations with around 10 customers, including key clients, while continuing discussions with other major customers to secure stable medium- to long-term supply. SK hynix said it began mass shipments of its HBM4 products in the second quarter and plans to ramp up production in the second half of the year. It also said HBM4E samples have already been supplied to customers and were developed using an optimized process designed for mass production. The company said it would continue to strengthen production capacity while maintaining capital expenditure discipline, accelerating the ramp-up of its M15X fab and preparing to expand production at its first Yongin fab after the cleanroom opens in early 2027. SK hynix has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the global AI spending boom, strengthening its position in the High Bandwidth Memory market by supplying advanced HBM chips to major AI chipmakers, including Nvidia. The earnings come as investors closely watch whether the AI investment cycle can sustain record demand for advanced memory chips and whether the company can maintain its technology leadership as competition intensifies with Samsung Electronics and Micron Technology. 2026-07-29 08:23:46
  • Kookmin University leads 22.2 billion won bio materials project
    Kookmin University leads 22.2 billion won bio materials project SEOUL, July 29 (AJP) - A Seoul university better known for design and management has landed one of the year's larger national biotechnology awards, taking the lead role in a government project to mass-produce high-value biological materials that currently exist only in trace amounts in nature. Kookmin University said Tuesday that a research team headed by Park Yong-cheol, a professor in its Department of Convergence Bioengineering, was selected as a new recipient under the advanced bio materials development program, part of the first round of 2026 bio-health research and development projects overseen by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) and supported by the Korea Planning and Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT). The project runs through 2030 with a total budget of 22.2 billion won ($15.1 million), consisting of 15.9 billion won in government funding and 6.3 billion won from participating institutions. The award places Kookmin at the center of a 17-member consortium of companies and research bodies, an unusual position for a university whose research profile in industrial biotechnology has grown quickly over the past several years. Park was selected in April for a separate core research grant from the National Research Foundation of Korea for work on precision fermentation using the food yeast Candida utilis. He received a ministerial award for research and development in biochemistry in 2022 and founded BioCraft, a brewing yeast company, in 2020. Advanced biomaterials refer to substances made from living organisms, natural raw ingredients or bioprocess technology, with applications in medicine, chemicals, food and cosmetics. The project targets three of them: exosomes derived from microbes, high-purity vitamins and microbial lutein. All three are difficult and expensive to obtain at scale by conventional extraction, which is why the research aims to produce them inside engineered microorganisms instead. Kookmin manages the overall project while three companies run the subprojects. Bio-FD&C leads work on bio production processes and commercialization for multifunctional beauty materials based on microbe-derived exosomes. Ace Biopharm handles mass production of high-purity vitamins through microbial processes and their development into functional products. Daebong LS runs the third subproject, covering biomanufacturing processes and commercialization technology for lutein produced by industrial microbes. The research combines several approaches. The team plans to develop ultrafast microbial design methods built on synthetic biology and biofoundry platforms, fermentation and purification processes based on precision fermentation, and manufacturing process technology drawing on big data and deep learning. The goal is a production base for materials that occur naturally in only small quantities, along with a support system linking production through to finished products. "This project is a large-scale research and development task in which 17 companies and institutions participate, linking production of high-function bio materials through to commercialization," Park said. "Based on synthetic biology, biofoundry and precision fermentation technology, we will develop technology that can support mass production and industrialization of advanced bio materials." 2026-07-29 08:22:57
  • Bitcoin Holds Steady Around $63,000 as Investors Await FOMC Meeting
    Bitcoin Holds Steady Around $63,000 as Investors Await FOMC Meeting Bitcoin is trading steadily around $63,000. The outlook for a potential interest rate hike by the U.S. Federal Reserve, due to rising inflation risks, has led to a cautious investment sentiment.As of 8 a.m. on July 29, Bitcoin was trading at $63,695, down 0.41% from the previous day, according to global cryptocurrency market site CoinMarketCap.Major altcoins are showing mixed trends. At the same time, Ethereum rose 0.44% to $1,908.81, and Binance Coin increased by 0.28% to $568.38. In contrast, Solana fell 1.25% to $73.40, and Ripple decreased by 0.54% to $1.06.The market sentiment index is also weak. CoinMarketCap's 'CMC Crypto Fear and Greed Index' recorded a score of 35 (fear) today. This is the same level as the previous day but down from 40 a week ago. A score closer to 0 indicates extreme fear, while a score closer to 100 indicates extreme optimism.Market analysts suggest that the delay in processing the U.S. digital asset market structure bill, known as the 'Clarity Act,' along with expectations of interest rate hikes in the second half of the year, has further dampened investor sentiment.Currently, Wall Street banks expect the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates steady at 3.50% to 3.75% during its meeting on July 29, while not ruling out the possibility of a sudden increase due to the situation in the Middle East and inflation risks. According to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) FedWatch, the futures market reflects about a 70% probability that the Fed will maintain rates at this meeting.Meanwhile, at the same time on the domestic exchange Bithumb, Bitcoin was trading at 92,563,000 won ($63,608), up 0.50% from the previous day. The 'Kimchi Premium' was recorded at -0.12%, indicating that the price of Bitcoin traded domestically is lower than that in international markets.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-29 08:20:00
  • Daishin Securities Lowers HD Hyundai Electrics Target Price to 1.15 Million Won
    Daishin Securities Lowers HD Hyundai Electric's Target Price to 1.15 Million Won Daishin Securities announced on July 29 that it has lowered its target price for HD Hyundai Electric from 1.5 million won to 1.15 million won, reflecting uncertainties in investments from major U.S. tech companies. However, the firm maintained its 'buy' rating.Heo Min-ho, a researcher at Daishin Securities, stated, "The target price was adjusted due to uncertainties in the growth rate of AI data center infrastructure investments stemming from deteriorating free cash flow among U.S. tech giants, declining valuations of global peers, and interest rate hikes by the Bank of Korea. However, considering the solid performance in the second quarter, the expansion of direct supply to AI data centers, and the growth in sales of distribution products, the market's concerns appear excessive."For the second quarter of this year, HD Hyundai Electric reported consolidated sales of 1.142 trillion won, a 26% increase compared to the same period last year, with operating profit rising 37% to 287 billion won. The operating profit aligned with market consensus of 285 billion won. New orders reached $1.44 billion, a 45% increase, while the order backlog grew 30% to $8.49 billion.Heo anticipates continued improvement in the profitability of the distribution equipment business. He explained, "In the second half, sales of high-margin power equipment, which were delayed due to customer delivery schedules, are expected to recover, and additional profitability improvements in the distribution equipment business are anticipated due to price increases for medium and low-voltage circuit breakers."The expansion of orders for AI data centers is also seen as a positive factor. The company plans to increase the share of data center orders within its new power equipment orders from 1.8% last year to 6.3% this year and 16.0% next year. Daishin Securities forecasts that additional expansions will be inevitable, considering the expected increase in utility volumes and the expansion of orders for data centers.Heo noted, "Recently, we signed a long-term supply contract for power and distribution transformers worth approximately 1.1 trillion won with a major tech company, and further supply contracts are expected after deliveries in 2027-2028. It is also reported that discussions are ongoing with other major tech firms regarding power and distribution package supply contracts, indicating that entry into the high-end market is occurring sooner than previously anticipated."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-29 08:20:00
  • U.S. Blocks New Imports of Foreign Robots and Power Equipment, Targeting China
    U.S. Blocks New Imports of Foreign Robots and Power Equipment, Targeting China The United States has blocked new imports of foreign advanced robots and power inverters, citing national security and the protection of critical infrastructure.On July 28, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that it has added foreign advanced robots and power inverters to a list of equipment deemed to pose risks to national security.Equipment on this list will not be eligible for new FCC certifications required for import and sale in the U.S. As a result, new foreign models will effectively be barred from entering the U.S. market.The regulations cover mobile robots equipped with communication functions, including humanoid robots and quadruped robots.Also included are inverters, which are devices that connect power generated from solar and wind sources, as well as batteries, to the power grid or data centers.The FCC noted that foreign robots could collect information about their surroundings and users, potentially leading to surveillance or data breaches. There is also a risk that external entities could remotely control these robots to disrupt the operations of critical facilities.Inverters can also be operated remotely via the internet, raising concerns that foreign companies or hackers could turn off the equipment or extract data, which could disrupt the operation of power grids and data centers.This measure applies to products made abroad, regardless of their country of origin. However, robots may be exempt from regulation if they receive approval from the Department of Defense, and inverters may be exempt if approved by either the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security as not posing national security issues.The new rules do not affect the import and sale of products that have already received FCC certification, nor do they impact the use of existing products purchased by consumers.While the regulations technically apply to all foreign products, analysts suggest that the measures are primarily aimed at reducing reliance on Chinese-made robots and power inverters and encouraging the relocation of related production facilities to the U.S.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-29 08:15:00
  • Kim Yong-beom: Domestic Stock Market Volatility Not Solely Due to Leverage ETFs
    Kim Yong-beom: Domestic Stock Market Volatility Not Solely Due to Leverage ETFs Kim Yong-beom, head of the Presidential Policy Office, stated that the high volatility in the domestic stock market is not solely due to leverage exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and announced plans to review the overall structure of the financial authorities and capital markets.Accompanying President Lee Jae-myung on his state visit to Brazil, Kim made these remarks on July 28 during a briefing on the outcomes of a Korea-Brazil business roundtable held in São Paulo, in response to questions about government measures being considered to stabilize the stock market.Kim drew a line against stabilization measures aimed at defending specific index levels, saying, "It does not seem appropriate to approach stock market stabilization measures with a focus on any particular market level." He countered the notion that the recent sharp decline in the stock market can be attributed solely to the leverage ETFs introduced at the end of May, stating, "While it may seem that many issues can be traced back to that one factor, it is not necessarily the case." Leverage ETFs are designed to track the daily returns of underlying assets at a multiple. Concerns have been raised that when the market experiences significant movements, trading to maintain the specified multiple can amplify market volatility.Kim noted that instances of market fluctuations have been observed not only just before market close but also from the early trading hours, indicating that the recent decline cannot be explained solely by leverage ETFs. He remarked, "Looking at the timing of the volatility, it is not just a factor of leverage ETFs," adding that the structural characteristics of South Korea's capital market contribute to increased volatility.He identified structural factors such as a high proportion of individual investors, active trading of derivatives, and a concentration of the market in certain semiconductor companies like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. He explained that semiconductor-related stocks account for 40-50% of the domestic market, leading to amplified volatility during industry debates compared to other countries.Kim stated, "If the volatility in overseas markets is 10, it may appear as 20 or 30 in our country due to the characteristics of the market." The Financial Services Commission plans to further enhance the leverage ETF system. The government will also examine factors contributing to volatility in the domestic capital market, including the proportion of derivative trading and the composition of investors.Kim added, "The improvement of the leverage ETF system is being continuously pursued by the Financial Services Commission," and emphasized that they aim to comprehensively review the structural factors that lead to significant volatility in the capital market, including derivatives and investor composition.However, when asked whether President Lee had been briefed on the situation or had issued any specific directives, Kim replied, "The President's schedule is very busy," and noted that the policy line is under review, stating that the President has not separately mentioned the market situation. 2026-07-29 08:15:00