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International Oil Prices Surge Amid U.S.-Iran Tensions International oil prices surged over 3% as the U.S. and Iran continued military confrontations over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy transport. The renewed tensions in the Middle East also led to a decline in U.S. stock index futures.According to CNBC, as of 6:03 p.m. Eastern Time on July 12, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 3.4% to $73.87 per barrel. Brent crude, the international benchmark, increased by 3.5% to $78.67 per barrel.U.S. stock index futures showed weakness. At around 7:50 a.m. Korean time, September S&P 500 futures fell 22.00 points (-0.29%) to 7,598.25. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures dropped 103.00 points (-0.19%) to 52,803.00, while Nasdaq 100 futures decreased by 152.00 points (-0.51%) to 29,880.25.This situation follows a series of airstrikes exchanged between the U.S. and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns about potential disruptions in oil supply and increasing risk aversion among investors.According to U.S. Central Command, the military struck 140 targets in Iran the previous day and conducted additional airstrikes in response to an attack by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard on a container ship passing through the Strait.Iranian state media reported that Iranian forces attacked U.S. military facilities in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.Both sides have made conflicting claims regarding the navigation of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media stated that the Revolutionary Guard has closed the strait until further notice, while the U.S. military countered that the strait remains open to all vessels seeking to navigate legally.U.S. Central Command stated on social media, "U.S. forces are positioned to ensure freedom of navigation despite Iran's unjust attacks and threats, and they are prepared for any situation. Iran does not control the strait, and vessel operations continue."President Donald Trump also asserted during an NBC interview on 'Meet the Press' that the Strait of Hormuz is open.The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC), a U.S.-led naval coalition based in Bahrain, confirmed that the southern route through Omani waters is open to all inbound and outbound vessels. However, it cautioned that the security situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains serious and urged vessels to maintain heightened vigilance.This conflict was triggered by differing interpretations of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the U.S. and Iran on June 17 regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. has conducted airstrikes in response to Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the strait, while Iran has retaliated with attacks targeting U.S. military bases in the region.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-13 08:20:00 -
Shinhan Investment Corp. Raises S-Oil Target Price Amid Strong Refining Margins Shinhan Investment Corp. reported that S-Oil is expected to continue improving its performance despite falling oil prices, thanks to strong refining margins. The firm maintained a 'buy' rating and raised its target price from 140,000 won to 180,000 won. Lee Jin-myung, a senior researcher at Shinhan Investment Corp., stated, "Despite the decline in oil prices, strong refining margins persist due to low petroleum product inventories and global refining capacity disruptions. In the short term, we anticipate a decrease in earnings for the third quarter due to inventory valuation losses and lagging effects, but the burden of crude oil import costs will gradually ease with the transition to negative Saudi OSP (official selling price) in August." Shinhan Investment Corp. estimates S-Oil's consolidated operating profit for the second quarter of this year at 947.7 billion won. This represents a 23% decrease from the previous quarter but aligns with market consensus of 941.5 billion won. The refining sector is expected to see reduced profits due to the expiration of inventory gains and scheduled maintenance, but refining margins are assessed to have increased by $21 per barrel compared to the previous quarter due to tight supply and demand. In contrast, the lubricants segment is projected to achieve record earnings of 475.6 billion won in the second quarter, a 186% increase from the previous quarter, driven by soaring base oil spreads due to operational disruptions at Qatar Shell's Pearl GTL facility. Lee emphasized the importance of noting the elevated refining margin levels compared to pre-war conditions and the robust fundamentals of the refining sector. He added that starting in 2027, when investments in the Shahin project are completed, free cash flow is expected to improve significantly, leading to a normalization of dividend payouts and increased shareholder returns.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-13 08:20:00
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Kim Joo-hyung Ends 33-Month Drought with Scottish Open Victory, Claims 4th PGA Title Kim Joo-hyung captured the Genesis Scottish Open, part of the PGA Tour, with a total prize purse of $9 million.On July 13, in the final round of the tournament held at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, Kim shot a 6-under 64, making six birdies without a single bogey.With a total score of 17-under 263, Kim secured the victory, finishing two strokes ahead of Australian-American Min Woo Lee, who ended at 15-under 265. The win earned Kim a prize of $1.62 million (approximately 2.4 billion won).This victory marks Kim's fourth career win on the PGA Tour, breaking a 33-month silence since his last title at the Shriners Children's Open in October 2023. At just 24 years old, he joins Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), Sergio Garcia (Spain), and Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) as the fourth non-American player to achieve four or more PGA Tour victories before turning 25.Since debuting on the PGA Tour in 2022, Kim had three wins in his first two years but faced a significant slump afterward. Last year, he missed the cut in nine of the 26 tournaments he entered and only managed a single top-10 finish. However, a third-place finish at the U.S. Open in June helped him regain momentum, culminating in this latest triumph.The path to victory was not easy. Due to thick fog the previous day, Kim had to play a total of 29 holes in one day, completing the remaining 11 holes of the third round followed by the full 18 holes of the final round.Starting the final round tied for fourth, one stroke off the lead, Kim made significant progress by reducing his score by three strokes in the front nine. The turning point came on the back nine, where he made a 4.5-meter birdie putt on the 10th hole (par 4) to take the lead. He added another birdie on the 12th hole (par 5) and sealed his victory with a birdie on the 16th hole (par 4), hitting his second shot to within 1.8 meters of the hole.After the tournament, Kim expressed his joy, saying, "It feels amazing. It’s been a long time since I lifted a trophy, and I had forgotten how heavy it is. I felt the usual tension and pressure, but I trusted the experience and practice I’ve built over the years. Today is truly a meaningful day."Having shaken off his recent struggles, Kim aims to carry this momentum into the British Open, the final major of the season, which begins this week, seeking back-to-back victories.Fellow competitor Kim Si-woo finished the final round with an 11-under 269, placing tied for ninth, marking his ninth top-10 finish of the season.World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (U.S.) faced an unexpected setback, missing the cut and ending his streak of 78 consecutive tournaments making the cut and 37 straight top-25 finishes.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-13 08:12:00
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Yuanta Securities Raises Hana Financial's Target Price to 170,000 Won Yuanta Securities has raised its target price for Hana Financial Group by 3% to 170,000 won while maintaining a "buy" rating. This adjustment is based on expectations that Hana Financial will continue to show strong performance driven by improvements in net interest margin (NIM) and increased shareholder returns.Woo Do-hyung, a researcher at Yuanta Securities, stated, "Hana Financial's second-quarter net income attributable to shareholders is expected to reach 1.2227 trillion won, aligning with market consensus." He added that interest income is projected to increase by 1.2% from the previous quarter due to a rise in won-denominated loans and improvements in bank NIM.The bank's NIM is anticipated to rise by 3 basis points from the previous quarter to 1.61%. Non-interest income is also expected to grow by 11.4% compared to the previous quarter, bolstered by improved fee income.However, the provision for the Chungang Group remains a concern. Yuanta Securities estimates Hana Financial's exposure to the Chungang Group at 400 billion won, with a projected provision of 50 billion won for the second quarter.The capital soundness of Hana Financial is expected to remain stable. Although the Common Equity Tier 1 (CET-1) ratio may decline slightly due to investments in Dunamu, it is projected to be managed at around 13%. After applying operational risk mitigation, an improvement effect of about 10 basis points is expected in the third quarter.Woo noted, "The target price increase is due to upward revisions in profit estimates following the rise in NIM and improvements in return on equity (ROE)." He also forecasted a total shareholder return rate of 50.6% for 2026, with an expected total shareholder return yield of 6.9% (3.7% from dividends and 3.1% from share buybacks) by the end of this year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-13 08:08:00
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Yuanta Securities Raises Hana Financial's Target Price to 170,000 Won Yuanta Securities has raised its target price for Hana Financial Group by 3% to 170,000 won while maintaining a 'buy' rating. This adjustment is based on expectations that Hana Financial will continue to show strong performance driven by improvements in net interest margin (NIM) and increased shareholder returns.Woo Do-hyung, a researcher at Yuanta Securities, stated, "Hana Financial's second-quarter net income attributable to shareholders is expected to reach 1.2227 trillion won, aligning with market consensus. Interest income is projected to increase by 1.2% compared to the previous quarter due to a rise in won-denominated loans and improvements in bank NIM."The bank's NIM is anticipated to rise by 3 basis points from the previous quarter to 1.61%. Non-interest income is also expected to grow by 11.4% compared to the previous quarter, bolstered by improved fee income.However, the provision for exposure related to the Jeonggang Group is seen as a burden. Yuanta Securities estimates Hana Financial's exposure to the Jeonggang Group at 400 billion won, with a provision of 50 billion won expected in the second quarter.The capital soundness of Hana Financial is expected to remain stable. Although the Common Equity Tier 1 (CET-1) ratio is projected to decline slightly due to investments in Dunamu, it is expected to be managed at around 13%. After applying operational risk mitigation, an improvement effect of about 10 basis points is anticipated in the third quarter.Woo added, "The target price increase is due to upward revisions in profit estimates following the rise in NIM and improvements in return on equity (ROE). The total shareholder return rate for 2026 is expected to be 50.6%. By the end of this year, the total shareholder return yield is projected to be 6.9% (3.7% from dividends and 3.1% from share buybacks)."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-13 08:08:00
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Bang Si-hyuk Spotted in Seongsu-dong with Woman, Sparks Speculation Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of HYBE, has been spotted walking in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, with a woman, drawing significant attention.Recently, various online communities and social media platforms have circulated a photo taken by a Chinese tourist showing Bang walking alongside a woman in a sheer white shirt. The woman, who was seen carrying an expensive shopping bag, has sparked curiosity online, with comments such as, "She resembles Gajuk Seyun," and "I wonder who she is this time."There is also interest in Bang's noticeable weight gain compared to his appearance last September when he attended the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency as a suspect. Some netizens reacted by saying, "Has the yo-yo effect hit? It seems like he has gained weight again," and "It feels like he has returned to his pre-diet appearance." However, it has not been confirmed whether Bang has used any obesity treatment medications.Previously, in August 2024, Bang was seen in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, with BJ Gajuk Seyun (Inseyeon), which generated considerable buzz. At that time, Gajuk Seyun's older sister was also present, and HYBE explained that Bang was helping a friend with restaurant reservations and sightseeing guidance. Gajuk Seyun later clarified the same point during a live broadcast. 2026-07-13 08:00:00
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SK hynix ETF frenzy heads to Wall Street after record ADR debut SEOUL, July 13 (AJP) -A wave of leveraged exchange-traded funds tied to SK hynix's newly listed American depositary receipts is set to hit Wall Street this week, extending the AI chipmaker's explosive rise from South Korea's stock market to the world's largest financial market and raising fresh concerns that the trading frenzy which reshaped Seoul could spread to New York. At least six ETF products from U.S. issuers including Leverage Shares, ProShares, GraniteShares and CorgiFunds are scheduled to begin trading on July 13 and 14 U.S. time after SK hynix completed the largest U.S. listing ever by a foreign company. Most of the funds will offer either two-times leveraged exposure or inverse bets linked to the daily performance of SK hynix's Nasdaq-listed ADRs, allowing investors to magnify gains or profit from declines in one of the world's hottest artificial intelligence stocks. Leverage Shares plans to launch the 2x Long SK Hynix Daily ETF under ticker SKHX alongside the SKHZ short ETF, while ProShares will debut the leveraged SKHU fund. GraniteShares is preparing the leveraged SKUU and inverse SKDD products, while CorgiFunds and Direxion are also introducing leveraged vehicles. The launches follow SK hynix's blockbuster Nasdaq debut on Friday, when its ADRs surged 13.08 percent from the offering price to close at $168.49 after the company raised $26.5 billion in the second-largest equity offering in U.S. history behind only SpaceX. The speed with which ETF issuers have rushed to launch derivative products underscores the extraordinary investor appetite surrounding AI infrastructure stocks, particularly companies at the center of the high-bandwidth memory boom powering generative artificial intelligence. Single-stock leveraged ETFs have become a lucrative niche for fund managers in recent years, with products tied to Nvidia, Tesla, Alphabet and AMD attracting heavy trading volumes. Similar products tracking SpaceX appeared almost immediately after the aerospace company's U.S. listing, setting records for first-week ETF trading activity. Unlike conventional ETFs, leveraged funds seek to deliver a multiple of a stock's daily return by using swaps, futures and other derivatives. The products reset every trading day, making them short-term trading instruments rather than long-term investment vehicles. Their arrival on Wall Street also exports a phenomenon that has already transformed South Korea's equity market. Leveraged ETFs linked to SK hynix and Samsung Electronics have exploded in popularity since launching in Seoul in late May. Combined assets in the products have grown to more than 13 trillion won ($8.6 billion), while cumulative trading value has exceeded 212 trillion won in little more than a month. Semiconductor shares and related leveraged ETFs now account for more than 70 percent of total trading on Korea's main bourse, making the AI rally increasingly concentrated in just a handful of securities. Bank of Korea officials have warned that mandatory daily rebalancing by leveraged funds can amplify price swings as issuers are forced to buy rising stocks and sell falling ones to maintain target leverage. The central bank has cautioned that the products increase concentration risk and can reinforce momentum during periods of market stress. The Korea Exchange chairman has also publicly expressed regret over approving single-stock leveraged ETFs, arguing that they have contributed to excessive volatility in Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, while some lawmakers have called for the products to be abolished altogether. 2026-07-13 07:55:23 -
Navy Confirms Body of Missing Sailor Found in East Sea 동해상에서 실종됐던 해군 경비함정 승조원이 13일 오전 시신으로 발견됐다. 해군은 이날 언론 공지를 통해 “오늘 오전 5시58분쯤 강원 고성군 거진읍 동방 52km 해상에서 어제 동해 경비임무 함정에서 실종된 해군 병사의 시신을 발견해 수습했다”며 이같이 전했다. 전날 해군은 경비임무를 수행하고 있던 해군 함정에서 승조원이 실종됐다고 밝혔다. 이에 따라 해경과 합동으로 함정과 항공기를 투입해 실종자를 탐색했다. 군은 전날 오전 7시 45분쯤 실종 사실을 파악했다. 실종된 장병은 동해 1함대 소속 호위함 승조원으로 근무하는 일병인 것으로 알려졌다. 군은 이 병사가 동해 NLL(북방한계선)과 약 20~30km 떨어진 곳에서 실종된 것으로 추정돼 이에 따른 수색 장비와 인력을 투입했다. 군은 북한으로 넘어갔을 가능성을 염두에 두고, 북한에 국제상선공통망을 통해 ‘우리 국민이 해상에서 실종돼 수색하고 있다’고 통보했다. 통일부도 언론을 통해 북한에 협조를 구했다. 통일부 관계자는 “12일 오전 동해 해상에서 경비임무 수행 중인 해군함정 병사 1명이 실종됐으며, NLL(북방한계선) 이북 지역으로 표류 가능성이 있는 것으로 보인다”고 말했다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-13 07:52:00
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Navy Confirms Body of Missing Sailor Found in East Sea 동해상에서 실종됐던 해군 경비함정 승조원이 13일 오전 시신으로 발견됐다. 해군은 이날 언론 공지를 통해 “오늘 오전 5시58분쯤 강원 고성군 거진읍 동방 52km 해상에서 어제 동해 경비임무 함정에서 실종된 해군 병사의 시신을 발견해 수습했다”며 이같이 전했다. 전날 해군은 경비임무를 수행하고 있던 해군 함정에서 승조원이 실종됐다고 밝혔다. 이에 따라 해경과 합동으로 함정과 항공기를 투입해 실종자를 탐색했다. 군은 전날 오전 7시 45분쯤 실종 사실을 파악했다. 실종된 장병은 동해 1함대 소속 호위함 승조원으로 근무하는 일병인 것으로 알려졌다. 군은 이 병사가 동해 NLL(북방한계선)과 약 20~30km 떨어진 곳에서 실종된 것으로 추정돼 이에 따른 수색 장비와 인력을 투입했다. 군은 북한으로 넘어갔을 가능성을 염두에 두고, 북한에 국제상선공통망을 통해 ‘우리 국민이 해상에서 실종돼 수색하고 있다’고 통보했다. 통일부도 언론을 통해 북한에 협조를 구했다. 통일부 관계자는 “12일 오전 동해 해상에서 경비임무 수행 중인 해군함정 병사 1명이 실종됐으며, NLL(북방한계선) 이북 지역으로 표류 가능성이 있는 것으로 보인다”고 말했다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-13 07:52:00
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Explosions Erupt in Southern Iran Following U.S. Airstrikes Explosions were reported in southern Iran and the Strait of Hormuz shortly after the U.S. announced additional airstrikes against the country.According to Reuters, citing Iranian state television, multiple strong explosions were heard on the outskirts of the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, as well as on Qeshm Island and in Jazk.Earlier, U.S. Central Command announced that airstrikes began at 5 p.m. Eastern Time, describing the operation as aimed at degrading Iran's ability to attack civilian mariners and merchant vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.However, the U.S. military did not disclose specific targets or the extent of damage caused by the strikes. It remains unclear whether all the explosions heard locally were a result of U.S. attacks.Despite signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end hostilities last month, the U.S. and Iran have recently exchanged attacks on merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions once again.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-13 07:44:00