Kospi Crashes Through 6,000 as Semiconductor Peak-Out Fears Trigger Daily Circuit Breakers — BigGo Finance

• Goldman Sachs stock has edged higher following quarterly results that revealed an increase in investment banking revenue, specifically within advisory and underwriting. • The company reported a solid return on equity, signaling strong financial performance and capital strength despite broader macroeconomic volatility.

• BofA Finance (NYSE: BAC) has sold $3.21 million in index-linked digital return notes. • The notes offer a 10.84% digital return provided that three major indices, including the S&P 500 (SPX), remain above 65% of their initial levels.

• On July 17, 2026, the European Commission published a Communication on the Competitiveness of the Banking Sector and the Single Market in Banking. • The European Savings and Retail Banking Group (ESBG) welcomed the roadmap, noting that it incorporates key recommendations from the group.

• Canadian wildfires have intensified, sending dense smoke across North America and pushing air quality to dangerous levels for millions of people. • The environmental crisis has sparked significant health concerns in the United States as pollutants travel across the border.

• The Indian BFSI sector demonstrated resilience through strong Q1 earnings in banking, insurance, and fintech, despite broader market volatility caused by geopolitical tensions in West Asia. • Market instability saw the Sensex drop 561.46 points (0.72%) to 77,054.94 and the Nifty slip 158.95 points (0.66%) to 24,052.05, with 2,632 stocks declining.

• Global stock markets experienced a significant downturn as investors sold off AI-related stocks and computer chip companies. • Major Asian indexes tumbled, with Taipei falling 6.5%, Tokyo dropping 4%, and Shanghai decreasing by 3%, while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. saw a 7.3% decline.

• Global stocks have ended a two-week winning streak as the "AI-trade" loses momentum, causing semiconductor stocks to enter a bear market. • Oracle's credit risk gauge has reached a record high, reflecting growing investor concerns regarding the sustainability of massive AI-related spending.

• Analyst Gaurang Shah suggests that foreign investors may shift their focus toward the Indian market as the global AI trade momentum begins to fade. • Shah argues that India currently offers significant relative value, earnings resilience, and policy-backed sectoral opportunities compared to high-growth tech sectors.

• The BSE Sensex surged 965 points and the Nifty50 closed above 24,300 during a volatile trading session on Thursday. • Gains in IT stocks helped the indices remain resilient, offsetting significant profit booking in heavyweight banking and financial shares.

• Investment expert Gaurang Shah has identified Indian Bank, State Bank of India (SBI), ICICI Bank, and Federal Bank as his preferred banking stocks for long-term investment. • Within the public sector banking segment, Shah specifically highlighted Indian Bank Ltd and State Bank of India Ltd as top picks.

• MSCI’s Asia Pacific gauge fell 2.5% to a two-month low as investors rotated away from technology stocks, leading to a significant downturn in regional benchmarks. • Japan’s Nikkei 225 faced its worst session since March, while TSMC shares dropped 5% despite a solid earnings outlook, weighed down by higher spending forecasts.