EN Home › Market Briefing · published Sep 27, 2026 morning (KST) · prices as of 2026-09-26 close한국어

USD/KRW 1,357 lower, US 10Y 5.11%: Sep 27 Korea market briefing

USD/KRW fell 12.0 won (0.88%) from the previous day to 1,357.0 won per dollar. The US 10-year Treasury yield rose 15.0bp to 5.110%. Stocks moved in different directions: the Nikkei 225 and KOSPI 200 gained, while the Hang Seng fell. WTI crude dropped 2.33%, the largest move on the market table. Today's indicator to check is whether rising yields and a falling USD/KRW continue to move together.

Yesterday's closes

Indicator	Close	Change	%
USD/KRW09-25	1,357.0	-12.0	-0.88%
Dollar Index09-26	101.02	+0.05	+0.05%
USD/JPY09-26	157.27	+0.12	+0.08%
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 10009-25	30,608.13	+129.27	+0.42%
Nikkei 22509-25	66,364.20	+850.21	+1.30%
Hang Seng09-25	24,510.09	-251.04	-1.01%
DAX09-25	25,408.64	+142.11	+0.56%
WTI Crude09-25	92.41	-2.20	-2.33%
Gold09-25	4,321.20	+23.20	+0.54%
Bitcoin09-27	84,135	+75	+0.09%

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 fell 12.0 won (0.88%) to 1,357.0 won per dollar, down from 1,369.0 won the previous day. That is 6.78% below its 100-day average of 1,455.7 won. The Dollar Index edged up 0.05 points (0.05%) to 101.02, which is effectively unchanged. USD/JPY rose 0.12 yen (0.08%) to 157.27 yen per dollar. The key feature of the day's currency moves was that the won strengthened on its own while the Dollar Index barely moved. In rates, the US 10-year Treasury yield jumped 15.0bp to 5.110%, well above its 100-day average of 4.617%. The Korea 3-year yield moved the other way, falling 2.6bp to 4.014%. The indicator to check is whether US long-term yields and Korean short-term yields keep moving in opposite directions.

Equities

The Nikkei 225 rose 850.21 points (1.30%) to 66,364.20, the biggest gain among the major indices. The KOSPI 200 climbed 12.82 points (1.15%) to 1,126.12 but remains 2.74% below its 100-day average of 1,157.89. The Nasdaq 100 rose 129.27 points (0.42%) to 30,608.13, which puts it 4.07% above its 100-day average of 29,412.26. Germany's DAX gained 142.11 points (0.56%) to 25,408.64. The Hang Seng was the only index to decline, falling 251.04 points (1.01%) to 24,510.09. It is worth noting plainly that the indices moved in different directions while the US 10-year Treasury yield climbed to 5.110%.

Commodities & Crypto

WTI crude fell 2.20 dollars (2.33%) to 92.41 dollars per barrel, the largest absolute percentage move on the market table. Even so, it remains 6.75% above its 100-day average of 86.57 dollars. Gold rose 23.20 dollars (0.54%) to 4,321.20 dollars per ounce, 0.69% below its 100-day average of 4,351.06 dollars. Bitcoin was 84,135 dollars at 07:00 KST, up 75 dollars (0.09%) from the previous daily close of 84,060 dollars at 09:00 KST, so it was little changed. The variable to watch is whether falling oil prices and a slight rise in gold continue to appear together.

News and Markets

The US and Japanese finance ministers reaffirmed that an excessively weak yen is a problem, and President Trump directly voiced concern about yen weakness at the summit. Even so, USD/JPY actually rose 0.12 yen to 157.27 yen per dollar. This gap between verbal intervention and actual market prices is the part of the news that bears directly on currencies. President Xi Jinping's state visit to the US ended without a joint statement. The only results were an extension of the tariff deadline and expanded purchases of US farm products, and differences remained over AI rules and Taiwan. Over the same period, the Hang Seng fell 1.01%. However, the market table gives no basis for concluding that one caused the other, so this needs to be checked separately. Korean news also confirmed that the talks ended without a joint statement and that only follow-up meetings in November and December were set. This can be read as a sign that trade-related uncertainty will persist for some time. Calls for a Korea-Mexico trade agreement and the Mexican foreign minister's mention of a USMCA review are relevant to export industries such as autos and electronics, but none of this can be confirmed in figures reflected in yesterday's prices.

What to Watch Today

First, an indicator to check is whether USD/KRW falls further from 1,357.0 won per dollar or reverses. Because the won strengthened on its own while the Dollar Index barely moved at 101.02, it is worth watching whether the two indicators keep diverging. Second, after the US 10-year Treasury yield rose 15.0bp to 5.110%, a variable to watch is whether its gap with the 100-day average of 4.617% widens further, and whether the Korea 3-year yield at 4.014% keeps moving in the opposite direction. Third, a point to watch is whether US and Japanese authorities make further currency-related comments with USD/JPY near 157.27 yen per dollar. Fourth, with US-China talks pushed back to follow-up meetings at APEC in November and the G20 in December, investors can check whether the Hang Seng and the KOSPI 200 continue to diverge. Fifth, another item to review is whether WTI crude at 92.41 dollars recovers its 2.33% decline.

Yesterday's key world news

Xi Jinping's state visit and US-China summit: lavish protocol yields only a trade truce extension· Geopolitics
Xi Jinping received protocol unseen since the 1960s during a three-day US state visit, but no joint statement was adopted and results were limited to extended tariff deadlines and more Chinese purchases of US farm goods. Rifts over AI rules, Taiwan arms sales and Iran remain; the leaders will meet again at November's APEC and December's G20.
US and Japanese finance chiefs reaffirm 'excessive yen weakness is a problem' as yen slides to 156 range· Economy & Markets
In an online meeting, the US and Japanese finance ministers reaffirmed that excessive yen weakness is a problem, while Trump told a summit the weak yen hurts US trade. Despite Prime Minister Takaichi echoing the concern, the yen briefly fell to the 156-yen range late on the 25th, fueling bets on joint intervention and a Bank of Japan policy shift.
US Supreme Court allows bulk voter citizenship checks two months before midterms· Politics
The Supreme Court paused a lower-court ruling, letting states check voter rolls for citizenship in bulk using DHS's SAVE database, while striking down a Trump-backed Missouri redistricting map that added a Republican seat. Justice Jackson warned the error-prone SAVE could cancel registrations of recently naturalized citizens, though a ban on purges within 90 days of elections limits immediate impact.
Trump administration moves to cancel Obamacare coverage for 760,000 enrollees· Society
Vice President Vance announced plans to cancel about 760,000 ACA enrollments over fraud and further vet 419,000, claiming $2.2 billion in savings. Experts acknowledge broker-driven fraud but note expired enhanced tax credits already pushed about 3 million off coverage and raised average premiums by 114%, making health costs a defining midterm issue as 51% of voters rate it very important.
Burnham floats review of Chagos deal at first summit with Trump as UK politics shakes· Politics
Meeting Trump for the first time at the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Andy Burnham signaled a review of the Chagos sovereignty transfer and Diego Garcia lease deal after Trump called it 'terrible.' Meanwhile, a YouGov MRP poll showed Labour falling 170 seats to 241, short of a majority, with Conservatives on 130 and Reform on 123 splitting the right.

Full country-by-country summaries for Sep 26, 2026 (Korean) →

USD/KRW exchange rateUS 10-year Treasury yieldKOSPI 200Nasdaq 100Nikkei 225Hang Seng indexWTI crude oil priceUSD/JPY exchange rate

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.