{"id":65018,"date":"2026-07-18T23:38:28","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T03:38:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/asian-markets-update-samsung-brand-value-soars-as-china-north-korea-trade-rebounds\/65018\/"},"modified":"2026-07-18T23:38:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T03:38:28","slug":"asian-markets-update-samsung-brand-value-soars-as-china-north-korea-trade-rebounds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/asian-markets-update-samsung-brand-value-soars-as-china-north-korea-trade-rebounds\/65018\/","title":{"rendered":"Asian Markets Update: Samsung Brand Value Soars as China-North Korea Trade Rebounds"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/asian-markets-update-samsung-brand-value-soars-as-china-north-korea-trade-rebounds\/65018\/#Key_Takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/asian-markets-update-samsung-brand-value-soars-as-china-north-korea-trade-rebounds\/65018\/#Samsung_Hits_Record_Brand_Value_Ahead_of_Unpacked\" >Samsung Hits Record Brand Value Ahead of Unpacked<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/asian-markets-update-samsung-brand-value-soars-as-china-north-korea-trade-rebounds\/65018\/#China-North_Korea_Trade_Rebounds\" >China-North Korea Trade Rebounds<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/asian-markets-update-samsung-brand-value-soars-as-china-north-korea-trade-rebounds\/65018\/#COMAC_Secures_Major_Export_Deal_with_Air_Cambodia\" >COMAC Secures Major Export Deal with Air Cambodia<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/asian-markets-update-samsung-brand-value-soars-as-china-north-korea-trade-rebounds\/65018\/#Sega_Expands_in_Beijing_Amid_Retail_Push\" >Sega Expands in Beijing Amid Retail Push<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/asian-markets-update-samsung-brand-value-soars-as-china-north-korea-trade-rebounds\/65018\/#Financial_Crackdown_Former_CDB_President_Under_Probe\" >Financial Crackdown: Former CDB President Under Probe<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Samsung Electronics (<a href=\"\/stock\/005930\">005930<\/a>)<\/strong> achieved a record brand valuation of <strong>US$97.4 billion<\/strong> this year, driven by its leadership in AI and semiconductor technology.<\/li>\n<li><strong>China-North Korea trade<\/strong> surged by <strong>20%<\/strong> in the first half of 2026, marking a significant recovery in bilateral economic ties and cross-border logistics.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Air Cambodia<\/strong> signed a landmark agreement to purchase <strong>20 C909 regional jets<\/strong> from China&#39;s <strong>COMAC<\/strong>, signaling growing Southeast Asian adoption of Chinese-made aircraft.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sega Sammy Holdings (<a href=\"\/stock\/SGAMY%5D\">SGAMY<\/a><\/strong> expanded its retail footprint in China with a new flagship store in <strong>Beijing<\/strong>, drawing massive crowds as Japanese gaming IP remains a major draw.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ouyang Weimin<\/strong>, former president of the <strong>China Development Bank<\/strong>, is under investigation for alleged &quot;serious violations of discipline and law,&quot; continuing Beijing&#39;s crackdown on the financial sector.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Samsung_Hits_Record_Brand_Value_Ahead_of_Unpacked\"><\/span>Samsung Hits Record Brand Value Ahead of Unpacked<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Samsung Electronics (<a href=\"\/stock\/005930\">005930<\/a>) has seen its brand value climb to an all-time high of <strong>US$97.4 billion<\/strong>, according to recent reports from <em>Yonhap<\/em>. The valuation reflects the company&#39;s aggressive pivot toward <strong>Artificial Intelligence (AI)<\/strong> and its dominant position in the global memory chip market. <em>Analysts suggest that the integration of Galaxy AI across its product ecosystem has been a primary driver of this record-breaking growth.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The tech giant is also preparing for its <strong>Galaxy Unpacked<\/strong> event in London on <strong>July 22<\/strong>, where it is expected to unveil the <strong>Galaxy Z Fold 8<\/strong> and <strong>Z Flip 8<\/strong>. In a move to diversify its wearable portfolio, Samsung (<a href=\"\/stock\/005930\">005930<\/a>) is also tipped to debut its first-ever <strong>AI-powered smart glasses<\/strong>, co-developed with <strong>Google<\/strong> and <strong>Qualcomm<\/strong>. These &quot;Galaxy Glasses&quot; are expected to feature <strong>Android XR<\/strong> and <strong>Gemini AI<\/strong> integration, providing real-time assistance without a traditional screen.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"China-North_Korea_Trade_Rebounds\"><\/span>China-North Korea Trade Rebounds<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Bilateral trade between <strong>China<\/strong> and <strong>North Korea<\/strong> increased by <strong>20%<\/strong> during the first six months of 2026. This growth follows the full resumption of international passenger train services between <strong>Pyongyang<\/strong> and <strong>Beijing<\/strong> and the expansion of air routes. <em>The surge indicates a normalization of economic cooperation as both nations move past pandemic-era border restrictions.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>While trade volumes are rising, Beijing has simultaneously tightened <strong>customs requirements<\/strong>, requiring formal sales contracts and tax receipts for all North Korea-bound goods. These measures have reportedly consolidated trade around <strong>state-backed and well-capitalized companies<\/strong>, effectively squeezing out smaller individual traders. The shift toward more transparent, corporate-led trade is seen as an effort to strengthen state oversight of cross-border transactions.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"COMAC_Secures_Major_Export_Deal_with_Air_Cambodia\"><\/span>COMAC Secures Major Export Deal with Air Cambodia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In a significant boost for China&#39;s aviation industry, <strong>Air Cambodia<\/strong> has agreed to purchase <strong>20 C909 aircraft<\/strong> from the <strong>Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC)<\/strong>. The deal, signed in <strong>Shanghai<\/strong>, includes <strong>10 firm orders<\/strong> and <strong>10 options<\/strong>, with deliveries scheduled to begin in late 2026. This marks the first time a foreign flag carrier has placed a bulk order for the C909, formerly known as the ARJ21.<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>C909<\/strong> is a regional jet designed for short-haul flights with a capacity of up to <strong>97 seats<\/strong>. By securing this order, <strong>COMAC<\/strong> is successfully expanding its footprint in the <strong>Southeast Asian<\/strong> market, where carriers in <strong>Indonesia<\/strong>, <strong>Laos<\/strong>, and <strong>Vietnam<\/strong> already operate the model. <em>The agreement is viewed as a strategic win for China&#39;s &quot;Air Silk Road&quot; initiative, aimed at promoting homegrown aerospace technology globally.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sega_Expands_in_Beijing_Amid_Retail_Push\"><\/span>Sega Expands in Beijing Amid Retail Push<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Japanese gaming icon Sega Sammy Holdings (<a href=\"\/stock\/SGAMY\">SGAMY<\/a>) officially opened its <strong>SEGA STORE BEIJING<\/strong> at the Chaoyang Joy City complex on July 18. The opening drew over <strong>100 fans<\/strong> before doors even opened, highlighting the enduring popularity of Japanese intellectual property like <em>Sonic the Hedgehog<\/em> and <em>Persona<\/em> in China. This location is the company\u2019s third permanent store worldwide, following successful launches in <strong>Shanghai<\/strong> and <strong>Tokyo<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The Beijing flagship features exclusive local merchandise and interactive <strong>game demo stations<\/strong>, part of Sega&#39;s broader &quot;Transmedia&quot; strategy to monetize its IP through retail and merchandise. <em>Despite diplomatic tensions between Japan and China, the gaming sector continues to show resilience, with Chinese consumers demonstrating a strong appetite for immersive, brick-and-mortar entertainment experiences.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Financial_Crackdown_Former_CDB_President_Under_Probe\"><\/span>Financial Crackdown: Former CDB President Under Probe<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>China\u2019s anti-corruption campaign has reached the upper echelons of the <strong>China Development Bank (CDB)<\/strong> once again. <strong>Ouyang Weimin<\/strong>, the bank&#39;s former president, is currently facing investigation by the <strong>Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI)<\/strong> for alleged legal and disciplinary breaches. The CDB is China&#39;s largest policy lender, and this probe follows a series of high-profile investigations into the bank&#39;s former executives.<\/p>\n<p>The investigation into Ouyang follows the recent sentencing of a former CDB vice president to <strong>12 years<\/strong> in prison for bribery. <em>Market observers view these ongoing probes as part of a wider effort by Beijing to de-risk the financial system and enforce stricter compliance within state-owned banking institutions.<\/em> The news has prompted increased scrutiny of the bank&#39;s historical loan approvals and project contracting processes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Samsung Electronics (005930) achieved a record brand valuation of US$97.4 billion this year, driven by its leadership in 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