EN Home › Market Briefing · published Oct 13, 2026 morning (KST) · prices as of 2026-10-12 close한국어

US 10Y 5.24%, KOSPI 200 plunges: Oct 13 Korea market briefing

Yesterday the KOSPI 200 fell 3.79% to close at 1,004.92, the biggest move among the major indices. The US 10-year Treasury yield rose to 5.240% and gold gained 1.43%. Today's variable to watch is how Middle East tensions, including the Houthi attacks on a Saudi airport, show up in oil prices and interest rates.

Yesterday's closes

Indicator	Close	Change	%
USD/KRW10-09	1,342.0	-2.0	-0.15%
Dollar Index10-12	102.47	+0.24	+0.24%
USD/JPY10-12	158.68	+0.41	+0.26%
US 10Y Yield10-09	5.240%	+2.0bp	-
Korea 3Y Yield10-12	3.921%	-6.2bp	-
KOSPI 20010-12	1,004.92	-39.60	-3.79%
Nasdaq 10010-12	30,664.70	-218.45	-0.71%
Nikkei 22510-09	69,030.92	-11.19	-0.02%
Hang Seng10-12	24,271.20	+59.85	+0.25%
DAX10-12	25,277.68	+190.41	+0.76%
WTI Crude10-09	91.85	+0.36	+0.39%
Gold10-09	4,216.30	+59.30	+1.43%
Bitcoin10-13	82,508	-1,225	-1.46%

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 closed at 1,342.0 won per dollar on Oct 9, down 2.0 won (0.15%) from the previous session. That is 6.93% below its 100-day average of 1,441.9. The Dollar Index rose 0.24% to 102.47, and USD/JPY also rose 0.26% to 158.68 yen per dollar. The US 10-year Treasury yield closed at 5.240% on Oct 9, up 2.0bp and above its 100-day average of 4.713%. The Korea 3-year yield fell 6.2bp to 3.921%, moving in the opposite direction to US yields.

Equities

The KOSPI 200 fell 39.60 points (3.79%) to close at 1,004.92, 12.91% below its 100-day average. The Nasdaq 100 fell 0.71% to 30,664.70 but remains 3.58% above its 100-day average. The Nikkei 225 closed at 69,030.92 on Oct 9, down 0.02% and effectively flat. The Hang Seng rose 0.25% to 24,271.20, and Germany's DAX rose 0.76% to 25,277.68. Among Asian markets, Korea's decline stood out.

Commodities & Crypto

WTI crude closed at 91.85 dollars on Oct 9, up 0.39% and 7.26% above its 100-day average of 85.64 dollars. Gold rose 59.30 dollars (1.43%) to 4,216.30 dollars but remains 2.00% below its 100-day average of 4,302.31 dollars. Bitcoin (BTC/USDT) stood at 82,508 dollars as of 07:00 KST, down 1,225 dollars (1.46%) from the previous day. On the same day, gold rose while Bitcoin fell.

News and Markets

Houthi rebels attacked Riyadh's international airport in Saudi Arabia for a second straight day, and Iran warned of expanded maritime enforcement, adding to oil price jitters. With the Houthis also warning that refineries could be targets, this is a supply-side variable for crude. However, the WTI price in the table is the Oct 9 close, so the news from Oct 12 is not yet reflected. The sharp rise in diesel prices in the US and UK feeds into inflation pressure, making it something to check alongside the US 10-year Treasury yield. The US easing of sanctions on Russian diesel and the shaky Russia-Ukraine energy ceasefire are adding to uncertainty over the energy supply outlook. China's NDRC announcement on economic recovery is a demand-side variable that affects commodities and trade flows.

What to Watch Today

The first indicator to check is how much Middle East tension is reflected in WTI crude's next close. New figures for USD/KRW and the US 10-year Treasury yield will also come after their Oct 9 closes, so it is worth watching how the yield moves from the 5.240% level. Whether the KOSPI 200 holds around its 1,004.92 close is another variable to watch. Russia's official position on the energy ceasefire and any follow-up remarks from President Trump, who hinted at US military involvement, remain geopolitical variables to keep checking. This note is a summary of information, not investment advice.

Yesterday's key world news

Houthis attack Riyadh airport again, raising Middle East tensions· Geopolitics
Houthi rebels attacked Riyadh's international airport in Saudi Arabia for a second straight day, after the first attack killed 12 to 13 people and injured about 300. Together with Iran's warning of expanded maritime enforcement, the attacks added to oil price jitters.
US eases sanctions on Russian diesel as Trump presses for Zelensky's replacement· Geopolitics
Trump eased sanctions on Russian diesel under an agreement with Putin, and Russia plans to gradually raise supply, including 500,000 tons in November. The cracks in the sanctions front against Russia have deepened tensions between the US and Ukraine.
Trump announces Russia-Ukraine energy ceasefire; attacks resume the same night· Geopolitics
Trump announced a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine covering energy facilities, but both sides attacked each other the night of the announcement. With a full ceasefire uncertain, confidence in peace negotiations has weakened.
Diesel prices surge in US and UK, pressuring inflation and fiscal policy· Economy & Markets
Diesel prices jumped in the US and UK amid Middle East instability, with US diesel at 6.28 dollars per gallon, up more than 70% in a year. The UK faces pressure to cut fuel duty in its budget on the 28th of this month.
China says Q3 recovery continues, Golden Week spending strong· Economy & Markets
China's NDRC said the third-quarter economic recovery is firming, with September contract awards for new-type infrastructure up 50.4% from a year earlier. A recovery in Chinese demand affects global commodity and trade flows.

Full country-by-country summaries for Oct 12, 2026 (Korean) →

USD/KRW exchange rateUS 10-year Treasury yieldKOSPI 200Nasdaq 100WTI crude oil pricegold priceBitcoin priceHouthi attack Saudi Arabia

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.