EN Home › Market Briefing · published Sep 25, 2026 morning (KST) · prices as of 2026-09-24 close한국어

WTI 94.61 dollars +2.66%, US 10Y 5.11%: Sep 25 Korea market briefing

Yesterday, interest rates and oil prices moved higher together. The US 10-year Treasury yield jumped 15.0bp to 5.110%, and WTI crude rose 2.66% to 94.61 dollars. USD/KRW rose 3.0 won to 1,369.0 won per dollar, and the KOSPI 200 gained 1.15% to 1,126.12. The point to check today is how the rise in rates and oil prices shows up in exchange rates.

Yesterday's closes

Indicator	Close	Change	%
USD/KRW09-24	1,369.0	+3.0	+0.22%
Dollar Index09-24	101.30	+0.31	+0.31%
USD/JPY09-24	158.89	+0.69	+0.44%
US 10Y Yield09-23	5.110%	+15.0bp	-
Korea 3Y Yield09-23	4.014%	-2.6bp	-
KOSPI 20009-23	1,126.12	+12.82	+1.15%
Nasdaq 10009-24	30,478.86	+8.57	+0.03%
Nikkei 22509-24	65,513.99	+495.04	+0.76%
Hang Seng09-24	24,761.13	-72.99	-0.29%
DAX09-24	25,266.53	-144.10	-0.57%
WTI Crude09-24	94.61	+2.45	+2.66%
Gold09-24	4,298.00	-20.40	-0.47%
Bitcoin09-25	84,376	+10	+0.01%

The date next to each indicator is the trading day of that close. Bitcoin is the spot price at publication (7am KST). Yield changes are in bp (0.01 pp).

FX & Rates

USD/KRW rose 3.0 won, or 0.22%, to 1,369.0 won per dollar from 1,366.0 won the previous day. The Dollar Index also pointed to a stronger dollar, rising 0.31% to 101.30, which is 1.17% above its 100-day average of 100.13. USD/JPY rose 0.44% to 158.89 yen per dollar. The US 10-year Treasury yield jumped 15.0bp to 5.110% from 4.960% the previous day, well above its 100-day average of 4.617%. The Korea 3-year yield, on the other hand, fell 2.6bp to 4.014%, so Korean and US rates moved in opposite directions. USD/KRW is still 6.02% below its 100-day average of 1,456.7 won.

Equities

The KOSPI 200 rose 12.82 points, or 1.15%, to 1,126.12, the largest gain among the major indices. The Nikkei 225 rose 495.04 points, or 0.76%, to 65,513.99. The Nasdaq 100 edged up 8.57 points, or 0.03%, to 30,478.86, which was effectively flat. The Hang Seng fell 0.29% to 24,761.13, and Germany's DAX fell 144.10 points, or 0.57%, to 25,266.53. The picture was mixed, with the Asian indices higher and Europe and Hong Kong lower. The KOSPI 200 is 2.74% below its 100-day average of 1,157.89.

Commodities & Crypto

WTI crude rose 2.45 dollars, or 2.66%, to 94.61 dollars, the biggest move in yesterday's market table. That is 9.12% above its 100-day average of 86.71 dollars. Gold fell 20.40 dollars, or 0.47%, to 4,298.00 dollars. It is worth noting that gold fell on a day when interest rates rose. As of 07:00 KST, Bitcoin stood at 84,376 dollars, a change of 10 dollars, or 0.01%, from the previous day's 84,367 dollars. In other words, it was almost unchanged.

News and Markets

Reports said US Treasury yields climbed to a 19-year high on a mix of worries about rising US prices, a sharp jump in PMI and comments from a Fed official about further rate hikes. Those reports tie directly to yesterday's 15.0bp rise in the 10-year yield to 5.110%. The rise in rates also matches the 0.31% gain in the Dollar Index to 101.30 and the rise in USD/KRW to 1,369.0 won. Two other pieces of news concern shipping and oil-price risk, which was cited as the backdrop to WTI's 2.66% rise to 94.61 dollars. A bulk carrier bound for India was attacked near Hormuz, and indirect talks between the US and Iran ended without a breakthrough. President Xi Jinping's state visit to the US, his first in 11 years, and talks on extending the tariff truce that expires in November are variables for trade and technology supply chains. However, no clear direction from them showed up in yesterday's closing prices. Higher oil prices were also mentioned as a source of US inflation pressure, which shows how closely interest rates and commodities are linked.

What to Watch Today

First, the progress of the US-China summit and whether the tariff truce due to expire in November is extended are the key variables for trade and technology talks. There are reports that semiconductor export controls are expected to be left off the agenda, so the actual scope of the talks needs to be checked. Second, it is worth watching whether the attack on a vessel in the Hormuz area and the course of indirect US-Iran talks carry through to oil prices after WTI's move to 94.61 dollars. Third, the indicators to check are whether the US 10-year yield holds at 5.110% and whether its divergence from the Korea 3-year yield at 4.014% continues. Fourth, follow-up talks to the Korea-US summit are scheduled in Washington. Progress on the transfer of wartime operational control and on shipbuilding cooperation should also be checked. Fifth, it is worth watching whether the Dollar Index at 101.30 and USD/KRW at 1,369.0 won keep rising together.

Yesterday's key world news

Xi Jinping makes first US state visit in 11 years, with tariff truce, AI and rare earths on the table· Geopolitics
Chinese President Xi Jinping began his first US state visit since 2015, getting an unusually warm welcome from President Trump. Talks cover extending the tariff truce that expires in November, AI, export controls, rare earth supplies and Taiwan. In Washington, some called the visit more show than substance, and others demanded a tougher line on China.
Iran's president defies the US at the UN as a ship attack near Hormuz reignites Middle East tensions· Geopolitics
At the UN General Assembly, Iranian President Pezeshkian said Iran would not give in to Trump's threats of 'annihilation', and the US delegation walked out. Qatar-mediated indirect talks also failed to make progress. Meanwhile, an unidentified projectile hit an India-bound bulk carrier near Hormuz and killed one crew member, renewing concerns over oil prices and shipping.
US Treasury yields hit 19-year high as inflation and tariff pressures weigh on markets· Economy & Markets
Inflation worries, a sharp jump in PMI data and a Fed official's talk of further rate hikes pushed the 20-year Treasury yield to 5.13%, its highest in 19 years, and Wall Street fell. US inflation has climbed to around 3.4% and Trump's approval rating has fallen to 32%, raising the possibility of tariff concessions at the US-China summit.
Allies step up diplomacy at the UN General Assembly: South Korea on wartime command, Japan on the alliance, Britain on defense· Geopolitics
At his third summit with Trump, President Lee Jae-myung discussed wartime operational control transfer and nuclear-powered submarines at the leaders' level for the first time. Japanese PM Takagi and British PM Burnham touted alliance and defense gains. Under pressure from Trump, Britain is reconsidering the Chagos Islands handover deal.
Global AI rules debate gathers pace as the UN chief and Britain call for a risk management framework· Tech & Industry
In his final General Debate address, UN Secretary-General Guterres listed AI alongside war, inequality and climate change as four key challenges and proposed a UN-led framework for managing AI risks. Britain offered to mediate between the US, EU and China. AI and export controls are also central to the US-China summit.

Full country-by-country summaries for Sep 24, 2026 (Korean) →

WTI crude oil priceUS 10-year Treasury yieldUSD/KRW exchange rateKOSPI 200Nasdaq 100Dollar Indexgold priceUS-China summit

This briefing is an automated summary of public market data and news-broadcast summaries from several countries, for information only — not investment advice. Figures follow the table's source data; markets may have moved since publication.