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  • Supreme Court Accepts Special Prosecutors Request, Reschedules Kim Geon-hees Verdict to July 24
    Supreme Court Accepts Special Prosecutor's Request, Reschedules Kim Geon-hee's Verdict to July 24 The Supreme Court has unexpectedly postponed the verdict date for Kim Geon-hee's case involving stock manipulation related to Deutsche Motors. On July 15, the Supreme Court's second division, led by Justice Park Young-jae, announced that the verdict for Kim's violations of the Capital Markets Act, political funding laws, and specific criminal law regarding bribery will now take place on July 24 at 2 p.m. The verdict was originally scheduled for July 16 at 10:15 a.m. This decision follows a request from the special prosecutor's team, led by Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki, to review the first-instance ruling that found former President Yoon Suk Yeol guilty in connection with the polling allegations involving political broker Myung Tae-kyun. The special prosecutor's office asked the Supreme Court to delay Kim's verdict by at least a month to allow for a thorough examination of the first-instance ruling regarding Yoon's case, which they argued is closely related. The request for a postponement was prompted by the fact that while Kim was acquitted in a lower court, Yoon received a guilty verdict. On July 13, the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 33, presided over by Judge Lee Jin-kwan, sentenced Yoon to two years in prison for violating political funding laws. Yoon and his wife were indicted by the special prosecutor for allegedly receiving approximately 270 million won worth of polling services from Myung between June 2021 and March 2022, just before the presidential election. The court found that 14 instances of polling results, valued at 27.29 million won, were delivered, ruling that there was an "implicit agreement for free provision" of these services. The court acknowledged that Kim delegated the polling methods to Myung, and Yoon received the results, implicitly agreeing to the arrangement, thus recognizing a tacit agreement among the couple and Myung. This ruling contrasts sharply with the lower court's decision regarding Kim, which found that Myung's polling was a type of "bait product" intended to secure paid contracts, leading to her acquittal. In its request for a delay, the special prosecutor's office stated, "The first-instance ruling on former President Yoon's violation of political funding laws presents a judgment that is fundamentally at odds with the original ruling in this case on multiple issues. It is necessary for the same conclusion to be reached regarding related cases." They emphasized that a careful review and sufficient deliberation regarding the related case's ruling are essential before proceeding with Kim's verdict. However, Kim has already been found guilty of some charges related to stock manipulation and receiving funds from the Unification Church, resulting in a four-year prison sentence and a fine of 50 million won in the second trial.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 14:40:00
  • Hyundai Workers Continue Partial Strike, Production Delays Expected
    Hyundai Workers Continue Partial Strike, Production Delays Expected The Hyundai Motor Workers' Union (Metal Workers' Union Hyundai Branch) is continuing its partial strike for the third consecutive day on July 15 due to difficulties in this year's wage negotiations.According to industry sources, members of the technical staff (production workers) at Hyundai Motors' morning shift followed a two-hour strike directive, leaving work at 1:30 p.m. Some joined the union leadership at a general strike rally in front of Ulsan City Hall.With the participation of parts suppliers' unions in the strike, some production lines at the Ulsan plant are expected to experience delays of up to eight hours.The Motras union, which supplies modules including electronic devices, has joined the Metal Workers' Union's general strike, causing disruptions in parts supply and reducing the operational rate of some production lines at the Ulsan plant.Members of Hyundai Motors and Motras' afternoon shifts are also scheduled to strike for two and four hours, respectively, indicating that production delays are likely to continue.Currently, both sides are engaged in behind-the-scenes negotiations, but there has been little progress since the company presented its third proposal on July 8.The union is increasing pressure on the company for a proactive decision, having conducted two-hour strikes for three consecutive days since July 13. The Hyundai union will decide on additional strike actions on July 16. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 14:40:00
  • A cartel ingredient behind Koreas sticky prices
    A cartel ingredient behind Korea's sticky prices SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - Even before the war in the Middle East reignited fears over higher food and fuel costs, South Koreans had grown accustomed to paying more at the checkout. Wars, supply-chain disruptions and inflation became familiar explanations every time prices climbed. Now, a wave of antitrust investigations suggests another force was also at work much closer to home. Regulators say some of the country's biggest food and fuel suppliers had been coordinating prices instead of competing, helping keep household bills elevated even as global commodity costs eased. The latest and largest case came on July 7, when the Korea Fair Trade Commission imposed a record 747.57 billion won ($501.5 million) fine on four dominant producers of starch and starch sugar — Daesang, Sajo CPK, Samyang and CJ CheilJedang. According to the regulator, the companies colluded on the timing and scale of price increases 13 times between May 2018 and October 2025. They not only agreed on when prices would rise but synchronized customer notification letters and even visited post offices together to confirm the notices had been mailed. The penalty eclipsed the previous record of 671 billion won imposed in May on seven flour millers, which itself surpassed the former record of 668.9 billion won levied against six liquefied petroleum gas suppliers in 2010. Taken together, this year's enforcement actions against sugar, flour and starch-sugar producers amount to roughly 1.83 trillion won in fines, according to the Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations, making 2026 one of the most aggressive years ever for Korea's antitrust watchdog. Nor has the crackdown stopped at supermarket shelves. In May, the commission fined the Korea Layer Association for publishing benchmark egg prices that effectively guided producers to keep prices elevated despite stable production costs. Earlier this month, prosecutors indicted the country's four largest oil refiners — HD Hyundai Oilbank, SK Energy, GS Caltex and S-Oil — over an alleged fuel price-fixing scheme that authorities say distorted competition worth roughly 26 trillion won in the aftermath of the U.S.-Iran conflict. Regulators have also opened proceedings against ten industrial lubricant manufacturers, while gas stations and farming cooperatives on Jeju Island have been penalized for coordinating pump prices. The breadth of the investigations points to a problem that extends well beyond isolated misconduct. What makes this year's crackdown particularly striking is not merely its scale but its familiarity. Many of the industries now under investigation have been caught before. Sugar producers were punished for collusion in 2005, flour millers in 2006 and LPG suppliers in 2010. Yet nearly two decades later, regulators say many of the same sectors slipped back into similar practices. Consumer groups argue the consequences have been visible in household budgets for years. The Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations estimates international wheat prices fell 15.2 percent between early 2022 and late 2025 while domestic flour prices rose 20.3 percent. During the same period, raw sugar prices increased just 7.8 percent, but retail sugar prices climbed 37 percent, widening the gap between production costs and what consumers ultimately paid for groceries and dining out. Why does collusion keep resurfacing in these markets? Economists point first to industrial structure. Many of Korea's food ingredient industries are tightly concentrated, with only a handful of producers dominating national supply. Their products are largely standardized commodities with little room for differentiation, demand remains relatively stable regardless of price, and new entrants face high barriers to entry. The four starch-sugar producers alone accounted for about 95.7 percent of the domestic starch market and 86.4 percent of the starch-sugar market. In such industries, economists say, the incentives to protect profit margins through coordination rather than competition can become difficult to resist, particularly during periods of volatile raw-material prices when customers are already expecting costs to rise. President Lee Jae Myung has framed the issue as one of market integrity as much as consumer protection. "Price-fixing that exploits market dominance is a cancerous element that blocks fair competition and undermines trust in the market," Lee said during a Cabinet meeting after recent enforcement actions. The government now hopes to change the economics of collusion itself. Until recently, critics argued many companies viewed administrative fines simply as another cost of doing business because the financial gains from coordinated pricing often exceeded the eventual penalties. To reverse that calculation, the Korea Fair Trade Commission strengthened its penalty guidelines in April, raising minimum surcharge rates by as much as twentyfold in some categories. "If a firm gains 30 percent and is sanctioned 15 percent, collusion cannot be stopped," KFTC Chairman Joo Byung-ki said, pledging to push for higher statutory penalty ceilings so illegal profits no longer outweigh the risks. In the starch-sugar case, regulators went beyond imposing fines. The companies were ordered to restore prices to competitive levels and report all subsequent price adjustments twice a year for the next three years. Not everyone believes harsher penalties alone will solve the problem. Cho Dong-geun, professor emeritus of economics at Myongji University, said regulators should distinguish clearly between unlawful collusion and legitimate business communication while focusing more closely on whether coordination actually harmed consumers. "Overcharging consumers is clearly wrong, but a certain degree of corporate freedom in business, including communication between firms, must also be recognized," Cho said. "If regulators examine more carefully how these practices affect corporate profitability and consumer welfare, and build a healthier competitive ecosystem rather than simply punishing price-fixing, they will be better prepared for future cases." For consumers, however, the issue remains straightforward. Global wheat prices have retreated. Sugar prices have moderated. Supply chains have largely normalized since the pandemic. Yet grocery bills remain stubbornly high. Whether this year's record-breaking penalties mark a genuine turning point will depend less on the size of the fines than on whether companies finally conclude that collusion costs more than it pays — and whether the next fall in raw-material prices is reflected not just in corporate balance sheets, but at the supermarket checkout. 2026-07-15 14:39:24
  • Iran Threatens to Block Additional Export Routes Following U.S. Naval Blockade
    Iran Threatens to Block Additional Export Routes Following U.S. Naval Blockade As the United States initiates a maritime blockade against Iran, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned that it could close additional key maritime routes used by the U.S. and its allies, following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. On July 15, the IRGC stated through the state-run IRNA news agency, "We can close all other export routes that benefit the U.S. and its allies," adding, "Regional energy exports will either be enjoyed by all or none at all." The IRGC also declared, "We will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has already been closed, until the U.S. ends its malicious actions." Before the onset of the war in February, approximately 20% of the world's oil and gas maritime transport passed through this strait. Experts believe Iran's threat of further blockades is aimed at the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial passage connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, vital for Saudi Arabia's oil exports and maritime logistics between Asia and Europe. A senior official from Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement warned on July 13 that they are prepared to close the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait if Saudi Arabia continues its attacks on Yemen. He claimed, "If the strait is blocked, international oil prices could rise to $200 per barrel." The Houthis have a history of attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea following the Gaza conflict in 2023. The U.S. is also ramping up military pressure on Iran. The U.S. Central Command reported that it conducted airstrikes on dozens of military targets in the Strait of Hormuz and along the Iranian coast for seven hours the previous day. The U.S. stated that Iran has attacked seven commercial vessels in the past week, resulting in approximately ten crew members being killed, missing, or injured. Iran has claimed responsibility for attacks on U.S. military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. Kuwait's state news agency reported that a fire at one of the facilities hit by Iranian attacks was extinguished. Jordan confirmed it intercepted three ballistic missiles launched from Iran. Meanwhile, the U.S. began its maritime blockade against Iran at 5 a.m. Korean time on July 15, with President Donald Trump warning that if Iran does not return to negotiations, he will target power plants and bridges next week. 2026-07-15 14:36:00
  • Seegene Advocates for Simultaneous Diagnosis of Respiratory Infections and Pneumonia Pathogens
    Seegene Advocates for Simultaneous Diagnosis of Respiratory Infections and Pneumonia Pathogens Recent analysis indicates that diagnosing only viral infections in respiratory illnesses may lead to missed pneumonia pathogens.On July 15, Seegene announced the need to shift the diagnostic paradigm for respiratory infections from a "virus-centric" approach to a comprehensive syndromic molecular diagnostic (PCR) test that simultaneously detects both viruses and pneumonia pathogens.Using its statistical analysis platform, STAgora, Seegene analyzed approximately 260,000 respiratory PCR tests conducted on infants aged 0 to 5 over the past three and a half years (42 months). The analysis revealed a significant number of patients exhibited a pattern of "co-infection," where both viruses and pneumonia pathogens were detected simultaneously.The analysis showed that among the cases confirmed positive by the virus panel test, 78% also detected pneumonia pathogens. Conversely, 88% of the positive pneumonia pathogen cases also showed the presence of viruses. The company stated, "Respiratory infections in infants can progress to severe conditions such as pneumonia or sepsis, making it crucial to identify various pathogens simultaneously at the initial treatment stage."Furthermore, the analysis highlighted that single tests identifying only either viruses or pneumonia pathogens are insufficient to capture the common co-infection patterns seen in clinical practice. In fact, 82% of the cases that tested positive in the comprehensive PCR test for both viruses and pneumonia pathogens showed the presence of two or more pathogens.Seegene's proposed syndromic PCR-based comprehensive test is designed to analyze major respiratory viruses and pneumonia pathogens from a single specimen. The STAgora report visually presents not only the co-infection status but also the combinations and distribution of pathogens, along with the Ct (Cycle threshold) values indicating infection intensity.This approach allows for tailored treatment decisions based on the relative detection levels of each pathogen, moving beyond simple positive or negative results.Seegene stated, "The syndromic PCR comprehensive test aims to support accurate diagnosis and treatment decisions through more comprehensive cause analysis," adding that it plans to secure large-scale clinical evidence through the Global Million Clinical Study (GMCS) starting next month.Additionally, Seegene will launch the Global Million Clinical Study (GMCS) project in August, targeting medical institutions worldwide, including South Korea.The GMCS aims to validate the clinical utility and medical effectiveness of testing strategies based on real patient data from 1 million tests. The goal is to establish scientific evidence for new testing strategies and propose global testing standards.The study will focus on major infectious diseases, including respiratory infections, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), human papillomavirus (HPV), and gastrointestinal infections.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 14:36:00
  • Melons Global K-Chart Attracts 1.02 Million Users in One Month
    Melon's Global K-Chart Attracts 1.02 Million Users in One Month Kakao Entertainment's music platform Melon has demonstrated significant global interest in K-pop with its 'Global K-Chart,' attracting 1.02 million users within just one month of its launch.On July 15, Kakao Entertainment reported that the Global K-Chart, introduced in June, received visits from approximately 1.02 million users across 160 countries.Indonesia had the highest number of visitors, followed by Japan, the Philippines, the United States, Australia, and Thailand.The Global K-Chart aggregates data from Melon in South Korea, Tencent Music in China, and Line Music in Japan, providing a comprehensive K-pop chart for these three countries. In other regions, it is accessible exclusively through mobile web.Notably, despite being available only via mobile web for international users, the service recorded 1,017,573 unique visitors, indicating strong interest.The interest in the Global K-Chart has also contributed to an increase in overall traffic on Melon. The total unique visitors to Melon's mobile web, combining both domestic and international users, rose by 36.1% compared to May, marking the highest level for the first half of the year.Online reactions have been enthusiastic. Over the past month, mentions related to the Global K-Chart across more than 30 global communities, including X (formerly Twitter), reached 100,000.A Melon representative stated, "The fact that over 1 million users from 160 countries have sought out the Global K-Chart, launched by South Korea, China, and Japan, indicates that global K-pop fans have been waiting for a reliable integrated chart. We will continue to actively engage with K-pop fans worldwide and strive to establish the Global K-Chart as a leading K-pop chart."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 14:36:00
  • Melons Global K-Chart Attracts 1.02 Million Users in One Month
    Melon's Global K-Chart Attracts 1.02 Million Users in One Month Kakao Entertainment's music platform Melon has demonstrated significant global interest in K-pop with its 'Global K-Chart,' attracting 1.02 million users within just one month of its launch.On July 15, Kakao Entertainment reported that the Global K-Chart, introduced in June, received visits from approximately 1.02 million users across 160 countries.Indonesia had the highest number of visitors, followed by Japan, the Philippines, the United States, Australia, and Thailand.The Global K-Chart aggregates data from Melon in South Korea, Tencent Music in China, and Line Music in Japan, providing a comprehensive K-pop chart for these three countries. In other regions, it is accessible exclusively through mobile web.Notably, despite being available only via mobile web for international users, the service recorded 1,017,573 unique visitors, indicating strong interest.The interest in the Global K-Chart has also contributed to an increase in overall traffic on Melon. The total unique visitors to Melon's mobile web, combining both domestic and international users, rose by 36.1% compared to May, marking the highest level for the first half of the year.Online reactions have been enthusiastic. Over the past month, mentions related to the Global K-Chart across more than 30 global communities, including X (formerly Twitter), reached 100,000.A Melon representative stated, "The fact that over 1 million users from 160 countries have sought out the Global K-Chart, launched by South Korea, China, and Japan, indicates that global K-pop fans have been waiting for a reliable integrated chart. We will continue to actively engage with K-pop fans worldwide and strive to establish the Global K-Chart as a leading K-pop chart."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 14:36:00
  • Kim So-young, accused of motel serial murders, calls damages claim unpayable
    Kim So-young, accused of motel serial murders, calls damages claim 'unpayable' Kim So-young, 20, the suspect in the motel serial murders, has reportedly described the 30 million won (approximately $22,500) damages claim filed by the victims' families as "money I could never repay in my lifetime." She requested that the families only seek an amount she could realistically pay.According to Yonhap News TV on July 15, Kim expressed her concerns in a handwritten response submitted to the court in May regarding the damages lawsuit totaling 30 million won against her and her parents. She stated, "The 12% interest on the overdue amount is a huge burden that I cannot pay at all."Initially, the families estimated damages at around 1.1 billion won, but they adjusted their claim considering the costs of the lawsuit and Kim's ability to repay.Kim also argued that it was unreasonable to demand damages from her mother, stating, "I committed this crime as an adult, so it is unfair to hold my parents responsible." However, she acknowledged her father's potential civil liability, citing neglect and the psychological harm caused by domestic violence and verbal abuse during her childhood.She insisted, "The plaintiffs should bear the costs of the lawsuit. The amount they are claiming is so large that I could never pay it off in my lifetime. Please only seek an amount that I can earn and repay throughout my life."Kim has also submitted a statement expressing her feelings of injustice regarding the ongoing criminal trial. She claimed, "I was shocked when I learned that my two brothers (the victims) had died. I had no intention or plan to kill anyone. I deeply regret my brief thought of giving them drugs to stop the sexual assault. I was terrified, recalling past experiences of similar sexual assault without consent."Kim has been charged with causing the deaths of two men and rendering one unconscious by mixing benzodiazepine drugs into drinks from December last year to February this year. Additional charges have been filed for injuring three other men using similar methods in April.Her next court hearing is scheduled for July 23.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 14:28:00
  • IBM Shares Plunge 25% Amid Shift from Software to Hardware Spending
    IBM Shares Plunge 25% Amid Shift from Software to Hardware Spending IBM's stock plummeted more than 25% in a single day after the company reported disappointing earnings. Analysts suggest that as investments in artificial intelligence (AI) expand, corporate budgets are shifting from software to hardware, including servers and memory.On July 14, IBM's stock fell 25.2% on the New York Stock Exchange, marking the largest single-day drop in its history. This decline surpassed the 23.7% drop recorded on October 19, 1987, during Wall Street's 'Black Monday.'The sharp decline followed IBM's preliminary second-quarter results, which significantly missed market expectations. The company's revenue for the second quarter was $17.2 billion, a 1% increase from the previous year, but below the FactSet estimate of $17.86 billion. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) also fell short, coming in at $2.93 compared to the expected $3.01.IBM CEO Arvind Krishna explained that corporate clients prioritized their capital expenditures on purchasing servers, storage, and memory chips, which impacted the company's performance.With surging demand for AI leading to a shortage of memory chips and potential price increases, customers focused their budgets on securing necessary hardware. Consequently, funding for related software decreased, affecting IBM, which relies heavily on software sales.Krishna noted, "In the last few weeks of June, customers redirected their quarterly capital expenditures toward purchasing servers, storage, and memory to secure limited infrastructure and prepare for anticipated price increases. While we expected some impact from supply chain issues, we did not anticipate the scale of the shift in capital expenditure priorities."The performance of IBM's recently launched z17 mainframe and related software products also fell short of the company's expectations. IBM initially projected a low single-digit decline in infrastructure revenue, but the actual results were worse.Impact on the Software SectorIBM's earnings warning has dampened investor sentiment across the software sector. Shares of ServiceNow dropped 5.8%, while Workday fell 3.5%, SAP declined 3.2%, and Salesforce decreased by 2.1%.In contrast, shares related to memory and semiconductors rose. SanDisk increased by 5%, Micron by 4.9%, Intel by 4.7%, and NVIDIA by 4.1%. AMD and Marvell Technology saw gains of 2.6% and 2.3%, respectively, while storage companies Seagate Technology and Western Digital rose by 2.1% and 1.4%.MarketWatch, a U.S. financial news outlet, assessed that concerns over AI's impact on software business models have led to increased hardware purchases, which are encroaching on budgets that would otherwise be allocated to software.Luke Yang, an analyst at Morningstar, stated, "As more funds flow to hardware companies, there is little left for other sectors." He noted that hardware is taking a share of the budget that would typically go to other technology areas.James Friedman, an analyst at Susquehanna, added that the technology budgets of Fortune 500 and 1000 companies are limited, and increased spending on hardware is pushing out consumption in other tech sectors.The prioritization of hardware purchases is driven by supply shortages and rising price expectations. Friedman explained that companies are rushing to secure infrastructure and hardware, believing that buying today is cheaper than waiting until tomorrow.This trend is reflected in stock performance this year. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index, which tracks semiconductor companies, has surged 78.8% in 2026, while the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF, which tracks software companies, has dropped 11.4%.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 14:24:00
  • IBM Shares Plunge 25% Amid Shift from Software to Hardware Spending
    IBM Shares Plunge 25% Amid Shift from Software to Hardware Spending IBM's stock plummeted more than 25% in a single day after the company reported disappointing earnings. Analysts suggest that as investments in artificial intelligence (AI) expand, corporate budgets are shifting from software to hardware, including servers and memory.On July 14, IBM's stock fell 25.2% on the New York Stock Exchange, marking the largest single-day drop in its history. This decline surpassed the 23.7% drop recorded on October 19, 1987, known as 'Black Monday.'The sharp decline followed IBM's preliminary second-quarter results, which significantly missed market expectations. The company's revenue for the second quarter was $17.2 billion, a 1% increase from the previous year, but below the FactSet estimate of $17.86 billion. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) also fell short at $2.93, compared to the expected $3.01.IBM CEO Arvind Krishna explained that corporate clients prioritized their capital expenditures on purchasing servers, storage, and memory semiconductors, which impacted the company's performance.With surging demand for AI leading to a shortage of memory semiconductors and potential price increases, customers focused their budgets on securing necessary hardware. Consequently, funding for related software decreased, affecting IBM, which relies heavily on software sales.Krishna noted, "In the last few weeks of June, customers redirected their quarterly capital expenditures toward purchasing servers, storage, and memory to secure limited infrastructure and prepare for anticipated price increases. While we expected some impact from supply chain issues, we did not anticipate the scale of the shift in capital expenditure priorities."The performance of IBM's recently launched z17 mainframe and related software products also fell short of the company's expectations. IBM initially projected a low single-digit decline in infrastructure revenue, but the actual results were worse.Impact on the Software SectorIBM's earnings warning has dampened investor sentiment across the software sector. Shares of ServiceNow dropped 5.8%, while Workday fell 3.5%, SAP declined 3.2%, and Salesforce decreased by 2.1%.In contrast, shares related to memory and semiconductors rose. SanDisk increased by 5%, Micron by 4.9%, Intel by 4.7%, and NVIDIA by 4.1%. AMD and Marvell Technology rose by 2.6% and 2.3%, respectively, while storage companies Seagate Technology and Western Digital saw increases of 2.1% and 1.4%.MarketWatch, a U.S. financial news outlet, assessed that the shift toward hardware purchases is not only raising concerns about software companies' business models but is also encroaching on budgets that would typically be allocated to software.Luke Yang, an analyst at Morningstar, stated, "As more funds flow to hardware companies, there is little left for other sectors." He noted that hardware is taking a share of the budget that would otherwise go to other technology fields.James Friedman, an analyst at Susquehanna, added that the technology budgets of Fortune 500 and 1000 companies are limited, and increased spending on hardware is pushing out consumption in other tech areas.The priority for hardware purchases stems from supply shortages and rising price expectations. Friedman explained that companies are rushing to secure infrastructure and hardware, believing that buying today is cheaper than waiting until tomorrow.This trend is reflected in stock performance this year. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index, which tracks semiconductor companies, has surged 78.8% in 2026, while the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF, which tracks software companies, has dropped 11.4%.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-15 14:24:00