#AndreiJikh
This video by Andrei Jikh explores the recent, volatile downturn in the South Korean stock market (KOSPI) and draws parallels to potential risks in the United States economy.

The South Korean Market Crash:
Retail Speculation: South Korea, where roughly 1 in 4 people are retail investors, saw massive growth driven by heavy borrowing and leveraged ETFs (0:30-1:15, 4:50-5:50).
Concentrated Risk: The market became highly concentrated, with just two companies, Samsung and SK Hynix, accounting for over 56% of the index. This made the market extremely sensitive to volatility (0:58-1:11, 6:10-6:35).
The Domino Effect: A sell-off in U.S. chip stocks triggered a "doom loop" in Korea, where automatic margin calls and forced liquidations led to a historic drop in the KOSPI (1:32-2:05, 10:24-12:28).

Parallels to the U.S. Market:
Record Leverage: Andrei highlights that U.S. margin debt has reached record levels (approximately 4.5% of GDP), exceeding peaks from the dot-com bubble and the 2008 financial crisis (14:26-14:50).
The AI Spending Bubble: The U.S. market is heavily reliant on massive capital expenditures (capex) from tech giants like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta to support AI infrastructure. If these companies reduce their spending, it could lead to an earnings collapse for the semiconductor companies supplying them, similar to the 2000s tech bust (16:15-18:00, 19:35-21:15).

Key Takeaway:
The video concludes by questioning the sustainability of current AI-driven stock prices and warns viewers to be cautious regarding leverage, noting that the market may be behaving like the *Titanic—confident until the moment it hits an obstacle (23:40-24:50).

https://youtu.be/hy90LdpEUvQ?is=H6KfWbDoCgLXsmAy

#USMarketUpdate
Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq mixed as chip stocks rise in wait for Big Tech earnings

US stocks rose on Monday morning, with chip stocks advancing ahead of Big Tech earnings this week, while oil prices eased after touching $90 a barrel amid tit-for-tat attacks between the US and Iran over the weekend.

https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/live/stock-market-today-monday-july-20-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-111429441.html

"It's Gambling": Warren Buffett Just Issued a Blunt Warning to Investors -- and History Says He's Right.
https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/gambling-warren-buffett-just-issued-062000287.html

Stocks making the biggest moves midday: AMD, Archer Aviation, SpaceX & more

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/20/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-amd-achr-spcx-iren.html?__source=androidappshare

#USMarketUpdate
Wall Street indexes fall, with Iran and earnings season in focus | Reuters

SUMMARY
Indexes down: Dow 0.59%, S&P 500 0.19%, Nasdaq 0.05%Domino's Pizza gains after Q2 revenue beatChip index pares gains, Alphabet rises after report it is building new AI chipsAlphabet, Tesla and Intel to report earnings later in the week

July 20 (Reuters) - Wall Street's three major indexes finished lower on ​Monday while investors looked for moves toward Middle East de-escalation and waited for earnings reports due from major technology companies later in the week.

The technology-heavy ‌Nasdaq fell less than the S&P 500 and the Dow as the chip sector recovered some of the prior week's losses and growth sectors such as communications services (.SPLRCT), opens new tab and technology (.SPLRCT), opens new tab gained some ground along with the energy stocks (.SPNY), opens new tab.

The second-quarter financial reporting will pick up the pace this week, with results due from big names like Alphabet (GOOGL.O), opens new tab, Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab and Intel (INTC.O), opens new tab, broadening the picture the earnings season provides of the ​health of corporate America after a week of results mostly from the financial sector.

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/wall-st-futures-edge-higher-ahead-this-weeks-megacap-earnings-2026-07-20/

Wall Street indexes fall, with Iran and earnings season in focus
https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/wall-street-indexes-fall-with-iran-and-earnings-season-in-focus

While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, July 21, 2026
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/while-you-were-sleeping-5-stories-you-might-have-missed-july-21-2026

Trump announces 50% tariffs on Canadian autos, dairy, and alcohol
https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/article/trump-announces-50-tariffs-focused-on-canadian-autos-dairy-and-alcohol-in-response-to-continued-discrimination-211628074.html

Cultural memorabilia is heating up as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's iconic leather jacket auctioned for $960,000
https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/article/cultural-memorabilia-is-heating-up-as-nvidia-ceo-jensen-huangs-iconic-leather-jacket-auctioned-for-960000-182438580.html

AI optimism is now copper's biggest driver: #Chart of the Day

https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/article/ai-optimism-is-now-coppers-biggest-driver-chart-of-the-day-173856691.html

AMD stock rises on price target bumps, Microsoft deal
https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/article/amd-stock-rises-on-price-target-bumps-microsoft-deal-170106894.html

Why it's time to retire the 'Magnificent 7' name: Strategist
https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/article/why-its-time-to-retire-the-magnificent-7-name-strategist-165552204.html

Tech stocks live: Chip stocks recover from last week's losses on Google, AMD news
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live/tech-stocks-live-chip-stocks-recover-from-last-weeks-losses-on-google-amd-news-164334720.html

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on July 21, 2026

https://str.sg/bd29

Goldman Sachs picks 36 market winners that aren't AI stocks
https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/article/goldman-sachs-picks-36-market-winners-that-arent-ai-stocks-151002913.html

#WeekAhead by Reuters, Investopedia & Yahoo Finance
#Chart of the Day by Yahoo Finance
#Earnings by Earnings Whisper
#USMarketUpdate by Reuters, CNBC and Yahoo Finance
#TradingDay #MarketMind by Reuters
#MarketsWrap by Bloomberg
#SgMarketUpdate by Business Times
#HKMarketUpdate by Reuters and Trading Economics

Alibaba Unleashes New Qwen AI Model, Sending Shares Soaring
Jul 20, 2026, 20:57 GMT+8

https://www.tradingview.com/news/gurufocus:edd33f6ea094b:0-alibaba-unleashes-new-qwen-ai-model-sending-shares-soaring/

Michael Burry Urges Hong Kong Stocks as SOXX Surges 76%
Jul 20, 2026, 23:11 GMT+8

https://www.tradingview.com/news/gurufocus:5e99dde31094b:0-michael-burry-urges-hong-kong-stocks-as-soxx-surges-76/

China considers tighter export controls on AI models and chips, FT reports
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/global/china-considers-tighter-export-controls-ai-models-and-chips-ft-reports

‘Positive surprises’ in store for S-Reits’ H1 earnings as valuations lag fundamentals, say analysts
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/positive-surprises-store-s-reits-h1-earnings-valuations-lag-fundamentals-say-analysts

#MarketMind
#TradingDay: War clouds darken  | Reuters

July 20 (Reuters) - Escalating tensions in the Middle East finally weighed on Wall Street on Monday, after investors had earlier bought back beaten-down chip stocks ahead of some big tech earnings reports later this week, while the war jitters lifted oil prices, bond yields and the dollar.

In my column today, I look at how the ​intense volatility in South Korea's chip-heavy stock market has spilled over to Wall Street. The benchmark KOSPI is tanking. Can the main U.S. ‌indices withstand the heat?


Today's Key Market Moves

STOCKS: South Korea -4.5%, Japan -4%. Europe -0.4%, UK -0.7%. Dow -0.6%, S&P 500 -0.2%, Nasdaq flat.SECTORS/SHARES: ​Eight sectors on the S&P 500 fall, three rise. Healthcare, materials -1%, comms services +0.7%. Paramount -2%, hits 17-year low; Warner Bros. Discovery -3.8% to ⁠2026 low. Global Payments +6%, Microsoft +2%, Oracle -4%.FX: Dollar up broadly vs G10 FX, but slips vs key EM units — BRL, MXN, KRW all +0.5% or more.BONDS: UK gilt yields ​up broadly, curve steepens ~4 bps. U.S. yields +4-6 bps across the curve.COMMODITIES/METALS: Oil +1%, Brent pops back above $90/bbl. Gold slips, hugs $4,000/oz.

Today's Talking Points
* $4 a gallon gas
* New broom Burnham
* M&A (in)activity


What could move markets tomorrow?
Developments in the Middle EastTaiwan exports (June)UK jobs, earnings (May/June)Potential policy announcements from ​new UK PM BurnhamGermany ZEW index (July)

https://www.reuters.com/commentary/reuters-open-interest/global-markets-trading-day-graphic-2026-07-20/

Korean stock volatility comes to America. Can Wall Street take the heat?
July 20, 20269:00 PM GMT+8

July 20 (Reuters) - The intense volatility rocking South Korea’s chip-heavy stock market has come to America, but Wall Street has suffered only modest losses in response. Can this continue, or will the slump in semiconductors and vulnerability among highly leveraged investors cause serious damage in the U.S. as well?

The benchmark KOSPI index (.KS11), opens new tab - heavily concentrated in firms benefiting from the artificial intelligence boom, most notably the trillion-dollar megacaps Samsung (005930.KS), opens new tab and SK Hynix (000660.KS), opens new tab - is down more than 30% from its peak only a month ago, and volatility has soared. Daily moves of ‌4% or more are now regular occurrences, and 30-day realized volatility has exploded to the highest since 1998.

https://www.reuters.com/commentary/reuters-open-interest/korean-stock-volatility-comes-america-can-wall-street-take-heat-2026-07-20/