Chinese tech investors are receiving stern warnings against using leverage and blindly chasing hot topics after the US-based AI hedge fund Situational Awareness collapsed, offloading billions in tech shares at a steep discount due to AI stock volatility and unmet collateral demands.
Bitcoin (BTC) dropped to a two-week low of $62,369 on Friday, facing pressure as US stocks closed the month. This decline occurred despite a rebound in Asian markets, with analysts warning of a potential August rollover mirroring 2022 bear market trends.
Dubai-based crypto exchange Bybit has expanded the financial utility of blockchain-based equities by enabling six tokenized stocks, including Nvidia and Tesla, to serve as collateral for margin trading and lending products for eligible users.
Ark Invest sold ~$4.4M in crypto-related stocks (Bitmine, Robinhood, Block, Bullish) as shares fell, while buying ~$14.5M in SpaceX shares across its ETFs.
Chinese stocks trading overseas are emerging as defensive plays for global investors, offering shelter from US equities and bonds due to Federal Reserve monetary policy confusion and a struggling artificial intelligence trade.
South Korean stock prices, led by chipmakers SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics, surged almost 18% on Friday, partly reversing a three-day rout. The rebound was fueled by strong earnings from US tech giants Amazon and Microsoft, boosting AI optimism, alongside regulatory measures to curb selling.
Perpetual futures for tokenized stocks and commodities on Hyperliquid and Binance nearly matched Bitcoin's trading volume, reaching $61.7 billion last week. This growth, particularly in equities and commodities, signals a shift in crypto markets and draws attention from traditional finance leaders.
Major chip stocks fell sharply in the US and Asia as investors sold AI-related shares. South Korea’s Kospi was briefly halted after an 8% drop, while Nvidia’s decline helped Apple regain the top spot.
Alpaca, a California brokerage, custodies over $1.5 billion in shares backing tokenized equities, dominating a market promoted as decentralized. However, the upcoming launch of DTCC's Tokenization Service in October threatens to disrupt this concentration by offering tokenized stocks with full shareholder rights, potentially undermining Alpaca's position.
US stocks (S&P 500, Nasdaq) fell as Middle East tensions drove oil prices up, inflation concerns rose, and investors scrutinized AI spending returns. Key earnings from Alphabet, Intel, and healthcare players like Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson also influenced the market.
The US House of Representatives passed the Stop Insider Trading Act (232-198), banning Congress members, spouses, and dependent children from buying publicly traded stocks, with penalties for violations. Critics argue it doesn't go far enough, allowing existing stock ownership and sales with notice.
Hyperliquid's weekly trading volume (July 13-19) was 54% driven by Real-World Assets (RWAs), outpacing crypto for the first time, with SK Hynix leading interest.
US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced their first net outflows in over a week, totaling $225.2 million on Thursday, primarily driven by BlackRock's IBIT. This coincided with a dip in Bitcoin's price below $65,000, influenced by elevated oil prices due to the ongoing US-Iran military exchange.
Seoul stocks plunged nearly 6% on Friday, ending a three-day winning streak, as escalating Middle East tensions and a bearish outlook for the semiconductor sector sapped risk appetite. The KOSPI's sharp decline triggered a five-minute trading suspension.
Seoul stocks experienced a sharp decline of nearly 6% on Friday, ending a three-day winning streak, as escalating tensions in the Middle East dampened investor risk appetite. The KOSPI fell 406.27 points, triggering a five-minute suspension of program trading.
Seoul stocks plunged nearly 6% on Friday, ending a three-day winning streak, as escalating Middle East tensions and a bearish outlook on the semiconductor sector by Morgan Stanley sapped risk appetite. The local currency, however, strengthened against the dollar.
Seoul stocks, led by tech heavyweights, fell sharply Friday morning, with the KOSPI down 4.87%, as investors reacted to escalating Middle East tensions and U.S. President Trump's threat against Iran, pushing oil prices higher.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is pushing for a "generational investment" of nearly $1.5 trillion for 2027 military spending, a 44% increase, while also seeking emergency funds for the ongoing, unpopular Iran war. This comes despite a previous order for budget cuts and questions about $75bn in unobligated funds from a prior bump.
Shares of European defense companies Thales, Indra Group, and Dassault Aviation jumped significantly after reporting robust half-year revenues and swelling order books, driven by increased defense spending amid geopolitical uncertainty and NATO targets.
Seoul's KOSPI surged over 4% to 7,096.89, driven by a tech rally fueled by strong Alphabet earnings and foreign investor buying of semiconductors. The Korean won also strengthened against the U.S. dollar, while Middle East tensions added some downward pressure.
Hedge funds have significantly increased short positions against UK-listed stocks, with disclosed bets surging fivefold in the first half of 2026. New Prime Minister Andy Burnham's 'cost-of-living' agenda, focusing on housing and utilities, is expected to create new long and short opportunities across various sectors.
Seoul stocks experienced sharp gains late Thursday morning, with the benchmark KOSPI rising 2.42 percent, as investors responded to Alphabet's better-than-expected second-quarter earnings, driven by strong cloud business growth and increased AI capital expenditures, despite a dip in major U.S. indexes.
Bitcoin held firm near five-week highs despite escalating US-Iran tensions, with US stocks also shrugging off risks. Analysts suggest a potential short squeeze in the S&P 500, while some traders predict Bitcoin will outperform US stocks in the foreseeable future.
Payward, Kraken's parent company, has partnered with global fintech GTN to launch its blockchain-based xStocks outside the U.S. for the first time. The expansion begins with Hong Kong-listed equities, with plans to include U.K., European, and South Korean stocks, aiming to address capital market fragmentation.
