EN Home › Market Briefing · published Oct 4, 2026 morning (KST) · prices as of 2026-10-03 close한국어

USD/KRW 1,344 lower, US 10Y 5.28%: Oct 4 Korea market briefing

Based on closing prices on October 2, USD/KRW fell 1.05% to 1,344.2 won per dollar, while the US 10-year Treasury yield rose 4.0bp to 5.280%. The Nasdaq 100 and Germany's DAX moved higher, while the Hang Seng and WTI crude declined. Today, one thing to check is how tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the G7 release of strategic oil reserves are reflected in oil prices.

Yesterday's closes

Indicator	Close	Change	%
USD/KRW10-02	1,344.2	-14.2	-1.05%
Dollar Index10-03	101.88	+0.14	+0.14%
USD/JPY10-03	157.82	+0.17	+0.11%
US 10Y Yield10-02	5.280%	+4.0bp	-
Korea 3Y Yield10-02	3.937%	-7.3bp	-
KOSPI 20010-02	1,109.05	+4.57	+0.41%
Nasdaq 10010-02	30,807.93	+306.37	+1.00%
Nikkei 22510-02	68,309.46	-647.26	-0.94%
Hang Seng10-02	23,972.29	-640.98	-2.60%
DAX10-02	25,231.20	+291.85	+1.17%
WTI Crude10-02	91.11	-1.76	-1.90%
Gold10-02	4,162.30	-40.00	-0.95%
Bitcoin10-04	84,668	+192	+0.23%

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 stood at 1,344.2 won per dollar, down 14.2 won (1.05%) from 1,358.4 won the previous day and 7.28% below its 100-day average of 1,449.7 won. Over the same period, the Dollar Index rose 0.14% to 101.88. So the won strengthened even on a day when the dollar gained, and the two indicators moved in opposite directions. USD/JPY rose 0.11% to 157.82 yen per dollar. The US 10-year Treasury yield climbed 4.0bp to 5.280%, well above its 100-day average of 4.676%. The Korea 3-year yield, by contrast, fell 7.3bp to 3.937%, so Korean and US rates moved in different directions.

Equities

The Nasdaq 100 rose 1.00% to 30,807.93 and remained 4.44% above its 100-day average. Germany's DAX also gained 1.17% to 25,231.20. The KOSPI 200 rose 0.41% to 1,109.05 but is still 4.34% below its 100-day average of 1,159.34. Asian markets were weak. The Hang Seng fell 2.60% to 23,972.29, the steepest decline among the major indices, and the Nikkei 225 also slipped 0.94% to 68,309.46.

Commodities & Crypto

WTI crude fell 1.90% to 91.11 dollars per barrel, though it remains 5.61% above its 100-day average of 86.27 dollars. Gold declined 0.95% to 4,162.30 dollars, 3.78% below its 100-day average. Bitcoin was at 84,668 dollars as of 7:00 a.m., up 0.23% from the previous day and little changed. Bitcoin is the only one of these assets that trades over the weekend, so it is the first place to see how news released since Friday has been reflected in prices.

News and Markets

After reports that US job creation in September fell well short of expectations and the unemployment rate rose, a US news summary said stocks gained on expectations that interest rates would be held. The Nasdaq 100's gain fits with that trend. However, with the Cleveland Fed president saying she is more worried about inflation than employment, the US 10-year Treasury yield actually rose. It is worth noting that slowing employment alone did not push yields lower. On the oil side, the attack on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and the deployment of an additional US aircraft carrier are factors that heighten supply concerns, while the coordinated G7 release of strategic oil reserves is a factor that adds supply. Because both pieces of news came out on October 3, it is difficult to link them directly to the decline in WTI at the October 2 close.

What to Watch Today

The Middle East news released over the weekend can be checked against WTI crude prices on the first trading day of this week. The key question is which carries more weight: the heightened level of threat in the Strait of Hormuz or the G7 strategic reserve release. Ahead of the Fed meeting later this month, another indicator to check is whether the US 10-year Treasury yield stays above its 100-day average. Domestically, North Korea's launch of a projectile into the East Sea and the controversy surrounding Korea-US investment negotiations are variables that could affect USD/KRW. Whether financial authorities announce countermeasures following the hacking of Korea's five major commercial banks is also something to watch.

Yesterday's key world news

Tankers Attacked in Strait of Hormuz as US-Iran Talks Stall; US Deploys Additional Carrier· Geopolitics
With US-Iran negotiations deadlocked, Trump signaled expanded airstrikes on Iran, while at least 4 tankers were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz and the area's threat level was raised to 'critical.' An additional carrier strike group and intensifying fighting in Yemen have heightened the risk of wider Middle East conflict and oil price volatility.
G7 Announces Coordinated Release of 100 Million Barrels of Oil Reserves· Economy & Markets
The G7 announced a coordinated release of 100 million barrels of diesel and crude through the IEA over four months to counter soaring fuel prices. Energy-driven inflation pressure remains strong, with UK diesel topping £2 per litre for the first time.
US September Jobs Shock as Trump's Economic Approval Hits Record Low· Economy & Markets
The US added only 29,000 jobs in September, far below expectations, as unemployment rose to 4.2% and July-August payrolls were revised down by 60,000. Caught between slowing growth and inflation, the Fed's decision later this month and the midterm election outlook have been thrown into uncertainty.
UK Gilt Yields Hit Highest Since Financial Crisis as Fiscal Fears Spread· Economy & Markets
UK government bond yields surged to their highest level since before the financial crisis after Prime Minister Burnham's party conference speech outlined major reforms without any funding plan. Ahead of this month's budget, debt crisis warnings are growing and the pound and gilt markets are on edge.
AI-Powered Cyberattacks Surge, Causing Massive Data Breaches in South Korea and Japan· Tech & Industry
South Korea's five major commercial banks and Japanese companies and institutions suffered a series of hacks, leaking data on 25,000 Shinhan Bank customers and about 6.6 million records in Japan. As AI-driven attacks target financial infrastructure, pressure is mounting for tougher security regulations.

Full country-by-country summaries for Oct 3, 2026 (Korean) →

USD/KRW exchange rateUS 10-year Treasury yieldKorea 3-year yieldKOSPI 200Nasdaq 100Hang SengWTI crude oil priceBitcoin price

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.