Korea

• Stock market volatility in South Korea has begun to ease as investors unwind leveraged trading positions. • The stabilization follows a period of heightened fluctuations driven by high-leverage bets on market movements. • This shift is significant as it indicates a reduction in speculative pressure, potentially leading to more sustainable price action for Korean equities.

• South Korea's Kospi index experienced a significant surge in turbulence during June, pushing a key volatility gauge to a record-high of 96.9. • The spike was primarily driven by the flushing out of leveraged trades as market instability increased. • This event matters as it highlights the vulnerability of the South Korean market to high-leverage positions during periods of extreme price swings.

• Stock market volatility in South Korea is easing as leveraged trades unwind following the implementation of regulatory curbs. • Morgan Stanley estimates that the deleveraging process is now more than half complete, though volatility remains elevated. • Investors are currently balancing historically cheap valuations and a strong earnings outlook against the risk of further sharp price swings.

• Fast Track Entertainment has officially unveiled Launchpad, a new artist growth platform targeting South Korea and South-East Asia. • Developed in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment, the platform integrates live showcase experiences, brand partnerships, and new media engagement to support emerging talent. • Kenny Ong, Sony Music's managing director for the region, stated that showcase editions will progressively roll out from late 2026 through early 2027.

• Asian stock markets experienced mixed results on August 6, highlighted by a significant 4% drop in South Korea’s Kospi index. • The decline was driven by weakness in the semiconductor sector, with major chipmakers SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics leading the losses. • Other regional movements included a 1.7% fall for Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and a 0.4% dip for Japan’s Topix, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.4%.

Coffee chain faced backlash over marketing promotion tied to anniversary of Gwangju massacreSouth Korean police have raided the headquarters of Starbucks Korea as part of an investigation into a marketing campaign accused of trivialising the country’s 1980s pro-democracy movement.Investigators searched the building in southern Seoul on Tuesday, police said on Wednesday. No further details were released, although South Korean media reported that officers also searched the homes of the Starbucks Korea executives. Continue reading...

• Tanvi Sharma and other Indian women's singles players delivered strong performances at the Korea Masters, while the men's side suffered early exits, including Kidambi Srikanth. • Fifth seed Isharani Baruah advanced to the next round by defeating Korea's Lee So Yul in a three-game match (21-18, 15-21, 21-7). • Eighth seed Anmol Kharb also progressed after overcoming Hong Kong's Lo Sin Yan Happy with a comeback victory (16-21, 21-17, 21-12).