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  • Spider-Man: Brand New Day Pre-Sales Reach 710,000, Setting Record for 2026
    Spider-Man: Brand New Day Pre-Sales Reach 710,000, Setting Record for 2026 영화 '스파이더맨: 브랜드 뉴 데이'가 개봉을 하루 앞두고 사전 예매량 71만장을 돌파했다. According to the integrated ticketing system on July 28, the film 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' recorded 716,139 pre-sale tickets by 7 a.m. today, with a pre-sale rate exceeding 70%. This marks the highest pre-sale volume for any film released this year, generating excitement for the summer box office. Prior to its release, the film achieved the highest pre-sale volume for the 'TomSpider' series, with Tom Holland reprising his role as Peter Parker. Ten days before its release, it surpassed 300,000 pre-sale tickets, and three days prior, it exceeded 500,000 tickets, outpacing 'Avatar: The Way of Water.' 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' follows Peter Parker, who confronts a mysterious enemy that threatens to reveal his identity, after being forgotten by everyone since the events of 'Spider-Man: No Way Home.' The action blockbuster depicts Peter gaining uncontrollable powers due to DNA mutation and his struggle to protect his loved ones from new threats. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the film features Tom Holland, Zendaya Coleman, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Tramel Tillman, Michael Mando, and Mark Ruffalo. 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' is set to premiere in South Korea on July 29, ahead of its North American release.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-28 08:00:00
  • Hana Securities Maintains Navers Target Price at 400,000 Won Amid New Business Developments
    Hana Securities Maintains Naver's Target Price at 400,000 Won Amid New Business Developments Hana Securities announced on July 28 that while Naver's NeoCloud new business is becoming more visible, the related expectations have not been fully reflected in the company's value. The firm maintained its target price at 400,000 won and its investment opinion at 'buy.'Lee Jun-ho, a researcher at Hana Securities, stated in a report that "customer and revenue contracts are expected to be disclosed within the third quarter, and the deal closings with NVIDIA and Brookfield are anticipated to occur."He noted that Naver disclosed its equity investment from NVIDIA on July 27, explaining that the capital increase will be conducted through a third-party allocation, amounting to 1.48 trillion won.Lee added, "A significant change from the previously anticipated structure of the NeoCloud new business is that the investment is made directly into Naver rather than through a newly established special purpose company (SPV). This means Naver can fully secure the profits from the AI data center, which is noteworthy."He emphasized that it is now time to consider how quickly the company can achieve its 1GW target, rather than just the feasibility of the first phase of the project. He also mentioned that the merger between Naver Financial and Dunamu is scheduled for December 31.Lee pointed out that the enactment of the Digital Asset Basic Law and the Fair Trade Commission's review process have caused delays, resulting in expectations not being reflected in the company's value. However, he stressed that it is important to recognize that the industry is advancing.He noted that traditional financial institutions and fintech companies in South Korea have actively announced new business plans related to digital assets, including real-world assets (RWA), since July. He predicted that once the procedures are finalized and the merger becomes visible, Naver's competitiveness as a key player will be highlighted.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-28 07:36:00
  • Naver sells $1 billion stake to Nvidia to fund $10 billion AI factory
    Naver sells $1 billion stake to Nvidia to fund $10 billion AI factory SEOUL, July 27 (AJP) — Naver said Monday it will sell $1 billion of new shares to Nvidia in a rare third-party capital increase, turning the AI chipmaker into one of the largest shareholders of South Korea's top platform operator as the partners push ahead with a $10 billion AI factory project announced in San Francisco. The Korean internet giant will issue 7.24 million new common shares at 204,500 won each, raising an estimated 1.48 trillion won ($1 billion) through its first third-party share placement in 22 years and its first kind since transferring to the KOSPI in 2008. The company set the issue price at 204,500 won, representing no discount to the regulatory reference price—an uncommon feature for a strategic placement of this size. While the final number of shares may be adjusted based on the won-dollar exchange rate shortly before settlement, NVIDIA's total investment commitment remains fixed at $1 billion. The board approved the transaction on July 24, with payment due on Oct. 30 and the new shares scheduled to begin trading on Nov. 20. The shares will be locked up for one year. The equity investment forms the capital component of a broader $10 billion sovereign AI infrastructure initiative unveiled by Naver, Nvidia and Brookfield during President Lee Jae Myung's AI summit in San Francisco on July 24. Under that agreement, Brookfield will provide up to $9 billion as the exclusive infrastructure capital partner, Nvidia will invest $1 billion in Naver, while the Korean company will fund the remaining amount to expand its AI factory from an initial 55 megawatts to a 200-megawatt deployment at the GAK Sejong hyperscale data center. The expanded computing infrastructure will be built on Nvidia's DSX platform featuring Vera Rubin and Blackwell systems, providing production-scale AI computing resources for Korean and U.S. developers while laying the foundation for gigawatt-scale sovereign AI infrastructure over the longer term. "Nvidia's strategic investment and our infrastructure supply agreement with Brookfield have propelled Naver's vision for the AI Factory business into a robust execution phase," founder and Chairman Lee Hae-jin said in the San Francisco announcement. Once the share issuance is completed, Nvidia is expected to hold about 4.5 percent of Naver, making it the company's third-largest shareholder behind the National Pension Service and BlackRock. The stake will surpass Chairman Lee Hae-jin's roughly 3.8 percent holding, underscoring the strategic nature of the partnership. The investment also aligns Nvidia's financial interests directly with NAVER's AI infrastructure business, moving the U.S. company beyond its traditional role as a supplier of graphics processors. According to regulatory filing, the proceeds will be used exclusively to advance Naver's AI Factory business. The capital increase is conditional on Naver separately securing at least $9 billion in computing infrastructure for the project, matching Brookfield's planned investment. Naver expects to spend about 5.0 billion won this year, 692.0 billion won in 2027 and 783.8 billion won thereafter on the AI factory project, although the schedule could change depending on implementation. Beyond the hardware deployment, the two companies last Friday agreed to deepen collaboration on open AI models, AI agents and physical AI applications using Naver's HyperCLOVA X models and Nvidia's Nemotron, Cosmos and Agent Toolkit platforms. Naver shares on Monday gained more than 10 percent before closing up 8.43 percent at 225,000 won. 2026-07-28 07:26:18
  • U.S. Stocks Mixed as Oil Prices Plunge; Nvidia Falls 5%
    U.S. Stocks Mixed as Oil Prices Plunge; Nvidia Falls 5% The three major U.S. stock indices closed mixed. While easing tensions between the U.S. and Iran led to declines in international oil prices and bond yields, semiconductor stocks, including Nvidia, fell sharply, resulting in a weaker Nasdaq index.On July 27, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 262.83 points (0.51%) to close at 52,210.08. The S&P 500 gained 1.20 points (0.02%) to finish at 7,413.18. In contrast, the Nasdaq Composite dropped 43.74 points (0.18%) to end at 24,932.08. The Russell 2000 index, which focuses on small-cap stocks, increased by 0.6%.Expectations grew for a reduction in Middle Eastern tensions as the U.S. and Iran halted mutual attacks over the weekend. President Donald Trump stated, "We are having good conversations with Iran, and there is a possibility of an agreement." However, he warned that airstrikes could resume if negotiations fail.With concerns about oil supply disruptions in the Middle East easing, international oil prices plummeted. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell by over 7%, dropping to around $82 per barrel, while Brent crude decreased by about 8%, settling at approximately $88. This marks a significant retreat from last week's peak of $102 per barrel for Brent.The decline in oil prices alleviated inflation concerns, leading to a drop in bond yields. The yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury note fell by about 3 basis points to around 4.64%.However, semiconductor stocks experienced significant declines due to concerns over investment burdens in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and competition from Chinese firms. Nvidia fell by about 5%, amid reports that it may provide financial support for OpenAI's large data center project, raising worries about increased investment pressures.Additionally, the surge of China's largest DRAM manufacturer, Changxin Memory Technologies (CXMT), on its first day of trading dampened investor sentiment towards existing memory semiconductor companies. Concerns grew that the rapid expansion of Chinese semiconductor firms' technology and production capabilities could intensify competition.SanDisk plummeted by over 11%, while AMD and Micron saw declines of around 5% and 2%, respectively. SK Hynix's American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) also fell by more than 7%. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index dropped by 2.2%.In contrast, Walmart rose by 2.1%, Microsoft by 1.9%, and Johnson & Johnson by 1%, supporting the Dow and S&P 500 indices. Occidental Petroleum fell by 4.1%, and ExxonMobil dropped by 1.4% due to the impact of falling oil prices.Investors are closely watching the upcoming Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision and the second-quarter earnings reports from major tech companies this week.According to the CME FedWatch, the market sees a 62% chance that the Fed will keep interest rates unchanged at this meeting, while a 38% chance exists for a 0.25% increase. The Fed's decision will be announced on July 29.Major tech companies, including Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and Apple, will also release their second-quarter earnings this week. Market attention is focused on whether increased AI investments will translate into actual revenue and profit growth, as well as the impact of large capital expenditures on cash flow.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-28 07:20:00
  • Retail Investors Hit Hard by Market Drop as Margin Debt Halves in a Month
    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 trading through margin transactions. The KOSPI index rose to 9114.55 on June 22, only to plummet by 9.99% the following day on June 23.- Margin trading allows investors to buy stocks using borrowed funds from brokerage firms, with payment due by a specified deadline. If investors fail to pay by the deadline, the brokerage firm may forcibly sell the stocks in a process known as a reverse transaction.- The increased burden of reverse transactions has also contributed to the recent decline in margin debt. On July 9, out of 14.322 trillion won in margin debt, 1.422 trillion won resulted in actual reverse transactions, raising the proportion of reverse transactions to 10.2%. However, since then, margin trading has sharply decreased, leading to a rapid reduction in the scale of reverse transactions.◆Major Reports▷Investing in Covered Call ETFs During High Volatility - The global options strategy ETF market continues to grow, particularly around covered call ETFs.- The total net asset value of domestic covered call ETFs exceeds 25 trillion won. In a bullish phase of the domestic stock market, the net asset value of covered call ETFs investing in domestic stocks has surged. Recently, active covered call ETFs have also gained prominence.- The key factor influencing the performance of covered call ETFs is the direction of the underlying asset's stock price. Meanwhile, domestic high-dividend covered call ETFs have underperformed due to relatively low stock returns of high-dividend stocks, despite a surge in the KOSPI 200, which serves as the underlying asset for sold call options. The mismatch between held stocks and the underlying assets of call options should also be considered a risk factor.- Domestic covered call ETFs, such as KODEX 200 Target Weekly Covered Call, offer attractive high dividend yields and tax benefits on option premiums. However, strategies need to be developed considering relatively high stock price volatility. Active covered calls like TIGER Dividend Covered Call Active and KODEX 200 Covered Call Active may serve as alternatives to reduce volatility.◆Key Announcements After Market Close (July 27)△IBK, Q2 operating profit of 915.1 billion won…down 1.3% from last year△iM Securities Q2 operating profit of 27.5 billion won…down 16.3% from last year△Doosan Enerbility Q2 operating profit of 314.3 billion won…up 16% from last year△Hanwha Ocean Q2 operating profit of 736.1 billion won…up 98% from last year△LG Innotek Q2 operating profit of 245.8 billion won…up 2057.3% from last year◆Fund Trends (as of July 24, excluding ETFs)▷Domestic equity funds: 21.984 trillion won▷Overseas equity funds: 3.316 trillion won◆Today's Key Schedule▷South Korea: Consumer Confidence Index (July)▷United States: Housing Price Index (May), Consumer Confidence Index (July)* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-28 07:08:00
  • SK Hynix ADR Falls 7.44% Amid Concerns Over CXMTs IPO
    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 point. However, it later reversed course, dropping to as low as $139.10, a decline of 15.3% from its intraday high.CXMT's successful market debut has put pressure on the stock prices of existing memory semiconductor companies.On its first day of trading on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, CXMT's shares surged 466% to close at 49 yuan, significantly above its IPO price of 8.66 yuan. The company's market capitalization reached approximately 3.3 trillion yuan, making it the largest company by market cap on the mainland stock market.CXMT raised 57.92 billion yuan through this initial public offering (IPO), with plans to use the funds for expanding production capacity, improving manufacturing technology, and research and development. Concerns are growing that such large-scale expansions could intensify competition in the global DRAM market.CXMT is now the fourth-largest DRAM manufacturer in the world, following Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron, with an estimated market share of about 9% based on shipments earlier this year.Other memory-related stocks listed in the U.S. also experienced declines. Micron Technology fell 2.20%, while data storage company SanDisk dropped 11.02%.Nvidia's stock decline further dampened investor sentiment in the semiconductor sector. Nvidia closed at $196.51, down 5.07% from the previous day.The Wall Street Journal reported that Nvidia is negotiating a financial guarantee of approximately $250 billion for OpenAI's large-scale data center project. This structure does not involve direct investment from Nvidia but rather guarantees rental payments and financing for the data center. Concerns have been raised in the market that such a large guarantee could increase Nvidia's financial risks.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-28 06:52:00
  • Yemen Foreign Minister: Houthis Attempting Iranian-Style Maritime Blockade in Bab-el-Mandeb
    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 vessels has emboldened the group.He stated, "The Yemeni government's fundamental position is to resolve the conflict with the Houthis peacefully." However, he warned, "If the Houthis continue to apply pressure, we are prepared for escalation."Currently, clashes between Yemeni government forces and the Houthis are sporadic along some fronts, but a full-scale war has not erupted. The two sides are not engaging in direct talks, with Oman playing a mediating role.Recently, the Houthis declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabian vessels and have attacked related ships in the Red Sea.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-28 06:32:00
  • Trump Presses for Interest Rate Cuts Ahead of FOMC Meeting
    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. GDP growth rate to between 8% and 12%. Regarding Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Powell, Trump described him as "excellent." However, he criticized some individuals within the Fed as "very political," suggesting they are obstructing rate cuts. The Federal Reserve will hold a two-day meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) starting July 28, with a decision on interest rates expected on July 29. Currently, the U.S. interest rate stands at 3.50% to 3.75%. The Fed has kept rates unchanged in its meetings in January, March, April, and June this year. Market expectations suggest that rates will remain steady during this upcoming meeting.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-28 06:28:00
  • Zelensky Warns Russia May Mobilize Up to 500,000 Troops After September Elections
    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 500,000 additional troops in late September or early October, after the State Duma elections, explaining that Putin is keeping the mobilization plans under wraps due to domestic public opinion.Zelensky warned that if newly mobilized troops are sent to the battlefield without adequate training, it could lead to significant casualties.He also mentioned the potential for additional North Korean troop deployments, asserting, "North Korea is expected to send 30,000 soldiers to Russia," which he claimed could pose a threat to Western nations. Earlier, on July 25, he stated on X (formerly Twitter) that "Russia has been preparing to accommodate North Korean troops in the Voronezh region since June" and that North Korea is also looking to provide additional ballistic missile launchers.Neither Russia nor North Korea has officially confirmed any plans for troop deployments. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on related inquiries, stating, "There is no need for commentary."On the same day, Zelensky met with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Portsmouth to discuss strengthening Ukraine's air defense systems and expanding arms production.Following their meeting, Burnham announced plans to consult with partner nations on additional air defense support to protect Ukraine's energy facilities from Russian missile attacks. The UK plans to provide Ukraine with intellectual property for electronic warfare equipment, known as 'Stone Cloak,' to assist in local production aimed at disrupting Russian drone detection systems.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-28 06:20:00
  • Consumer Confidence in Rising Home Prices Hits Highest Level in Nearly Five Years
    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 of Korea's Economic Sentiment Survey Team, stated, "The recent upward trend in housing prices appears to be influencing consumer expectations. However, the effects of rising loan interest rates and reduced lending limits from commercial banks should be monitored over time."The Consumer Sentiment Index (CCSI) improved for the third consecutive month, rising by 0.2 points to 106.8. Despite concerns over inflation and falling stock prices, strong exports and investments in the semiconductor sector, along with expectations for wage increases, contributed to this improvement.The CCSI is calculated using six indices: current living conditions, future living conditions, household income expectations, consumption expenditure expectations, current economic conditions, and future economic outlook. A score above 100 indicates optimistic consumer sentiment compared to the long-term average (2003-2025), while a score below 100 indicates pessimism.Among the six indices, the current living conditions outlook CSI fell by 1 point to 93 due to persistent high inflation and declining stock prices. Meanwhile, the future living conditions index rose by 1 point to 98, and the household income expectations index increased by 1 point to 101. The consumption expenditure expectations index remained unchanged at 110.The wage level outlook remained steady at 124, the same as the previous month, but this reflects growing expectations for future wage increases compared to the long-term average (116) and the historical high (126).The current economic conditions index, which reflects perceptions of the economic situation, fell by 2 points to 84, while the future economic outlook index remained unchanged at 92. Concerns about the economic situation have increased due to renewed tensions from the Middle East conflict, but positive forecasts for economic growth from major institutions, driven by strong semiconductor performance, have kept the index stable.Among inflation expectations, the projected consumer price increase rate for the next year is 2.7%, down by 0.1 percentage points as domestic oil prices have decreased and the depreciation of the won has eased.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-28 06:04:00