☕️ Good morning, friends,

Choosing a spouse is one of the most important investment decisions in life.

The CEO of South Korea’s chip giant SK Hynix learned that the hard way: He was initially ordered to pay his ex-wife the equivalent of 1 billion USD. That ruling has now been overturned.

For now, he only has to pay a one-time alimony of about 1.5 million USD. A bargain!

P.S. Chinese wisdom: “You can’t do much for your poor parents, but you can for your poor in-laws.” 😉

📈 Asia Rises – “KOSPI Committee” Shows Full Effect

Asian markets closed higher on Thursday as investors brushed off ongoing U.S.-China tensions and bet on more Fed rate cuts. Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, and Shanghai all ended in the green.

In Seoul, the “KOSPI 5000” initiative launched in June is showing results:
The index keeps breaking records, surpassing the 3,700-point mark for the first time as it continues its climb toward the 5,000 target.

💹 Stocks in focus:

TSMC reported a 39% jump in Q3 profit, setting a new record thanks to sustained AI chip demand.

NIO, meanwhile, plunged 13.8% after Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC filed a lawsuit against the EV maker and its executives (see Market Bit).

TOP BIT

💻 The great shift begins: Microsoft exits China

Microsoft will move the production of its Surface laptops, servers, and Xbox consoles largely out of China starting in 2026

According to Nikkei, the company is already working with suppliers in Southeast Asia to set up new production sites. Rising trade risks and growing geopolitical tensions between the US and China drive the move.

The Details

🏭 China unplugged: The new Surface laptops and tablets will be manufactured in …