EN Home › Market Briefing · published Oct 15, 2026 morning (KST) · prices as of 2026-10-14 close한국어

USD/KRW 1,342 higher, US 10Y 5.19%: Oct 15 Korea market briefing

A sharp sell-off in US tech stocks pushed the Nasdaq 100 down 2.02%. In Korea, the KOSPI 200 fell 0.56% as chip stocks plunged. The Dollar Index rose 0.61%, while the US 10-year Treasury yield edged down to 5.190%. Today, the thing to check is how much of the clash between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition shows up in oil prices and risk assets.

Yesterday's closes

Indicator	Close	Change	%
USD/KRW10-13	1,341.5	+5.7	+0.43%
Dollar Index10-14	102.87	+0.62	+0.61%
USD/JPY10-14	158.84	+0.48	+0.30%
US 10Y Yield10-14	5.190%	-2.0bp	-
Korea 3Y Yield10-14	3.883%	+2.6bp	-
KOSPI 20010-14	936.82	-5.25	-0.56%
Nasdaq 10010-14	29,950.82	-618.66	-2.02%
Nikkei 22510-14	67,744.29	-33.23	-0.05%
Hang Seng10-14	24,314.17	-31.05	-0.13%
DAX10-14	25,298.61	+38.71	+0.15%
WTI Crude10-13	94.14	+0.40	+0.43%
Gold10-13	4,177.30	-13.30	-0.32%
Bitcoin10-15	81,752	-1,385	-1.67%

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 1,341.5 won per dollar on October 13, up 5.7 won (0.43%) from the previous day. That is still 6.74% below its 100-day average of 1,438.4. The Dollar Index rose 0.61% to 102.87, 2.37% above its 100-day average of 100.48. USD/JPY also rose 0.30% to 158.84 yen per dollar. The US 10-year Treasury yield fell 2.0bp to 5.190% but remains above its 100-day average of 4.725%. The Korea 3-year yield rose 2.6bp to 3.883%, moving in the opposite direction to US yields. Note that the won rate is the October 13 close, so it does not yet reflect the stronger dollar and weaker Korean stocks seen on October 14.

Equities

The Nasdaq 100 fell 618.66 points (2.02%) to 29,950.82, the largest drop among the major indices. The KOSPI 200 fell 0.56% to 936.82 and remains 18.44% below its 100-day average of 1,148.60. Local media reported that Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix plunged amid heavy net selling by foreign investors, dragging the index lower. The Nikkei 225 slipped just 0.05% to 67,744.29, and the Hang Seng edged down 0.13% to 24,314.17. Germany's DAX rose 0.15% to 25,298.61, one of the few major indices to gain.

Commodities & Crypto

WTI crude closed at 94.14 dollars per barrel on October 13, up 0.43% and 10.12% above its 100-day average of 85.49 dollars. Gold fell 0.32% the same day to 4,177.30 dollars, 2.75% below its 100-day average of 4,295.53 dollars. As of 7:00 a.m., Bitcoin stood at 81,752 dollars, down 1,385 dollars (1.67%) from the previous day, weakening along with the Nasdaq 100. Because WTI and gold are October 13 closes, their prices do not yet reflect the Middle East news from October 14.

News and Markets

The Houthi attack on Riyadh's airport and the Saudi-led coalition's retaliatory airstrikes bear directly on threats to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key oil shipping route. That makes them a key variable for WTI crude. However, the WTI price in the market table is the October 13 close, so it is not yet clear how the market reacted to this clash. Reports attributed the weakness in Korean stocks to a plunge in chip stocks and foreign selling. The chip sell-off came as several concerns overlapped: weak US semiconductor stocks, Chinese memory makers catching up on technology, and doubts over whether AI spending can be sustained. At the IMF Annual Meetings, one variable raised was that a prolonged Iran war could weigh on energy prices, inflation and interest rates. No direct causal link has been confirmed between the assets in the market table and either the UK's review of its EU relationship or the Pope's surgery.

What to Watch Today

One thing to check is whether the Saudi-Houthi clash escalates, or whether signs of a wider conflict such as a Turkish troop deployment emerge, and whether this shows up in WTI crude prices. In Korea, a key variable for the KOSPI 200 is whether foreign selling continues, especially in large-cap chip stocks. Another indicator to check is the next USD/KRW close, which does not yet reflect the October 14 rise in the Dollar Index or the weakness in stocks. It is also worth watching how the US 10-year Treasury yield moves in the 5% range and whether the Nasdaq 100's weakness spreads to Asian tech stocks.

Yesterday's key world news

Houthis attack Riyadh airport; Saudi-led coalition's retaliatory airstrikes raise fears of wider Middle East conflict· Geopolitics
After a Houthi attack on Riyadh's airport that killed at least 13 people and injured more than 300, the Saudi-led coalition launched retaliatory airstrikes on Yemen. Threats to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait are adding to unease in oil and financial markets.
KOSPI briefly falls below 6,000 as chip stocks plunge· Economy & Markets
Heavy foreign selling briefly pushed the KOSPI below 6,000 during the session. Samsung Electronics fell more than 7% and SK Hynix 10%, as worries about whether AI spending can be sustained spread into risk for memory chips.
IMF Annual Meetings: UK growth forecast raised, India's growth in focus· Economy & Markets
At the IMF Annual Meetings in Bangkok, the growth outlooks for the UK and India drew attention. The UK's growth forecast has returned to its level before the Iran war, tying for second in the G7. A prolonged Iran war could put pressure on energy prices, inflation and interest rates.
UK Prime Minister Burnham formally launches review of long-term post-Brexit relationship with the EU· Politics
UK Prime Minister Burnham formally launched a review of Britain's long-term relationship with the EU. After the November 20 summit in Brussels, the government will examine options including a customs union. The review could mark a turning point for the UK's trade arrangements and political landscape.
Pope Leo XIV diagnosed with lung cancer, undergoes lobectomy· Society
Pope Leo XIV was diagnosed with a localized lung adenocarcinoma of 3cm or smaller and had a lobectomy, which was completed without complications. Given his age of 71, attention is on how long his recovery will take and whether his Latin America trip will go ahead.

Full country-by-country summaries for Oct 14, 2026 (Korean) →

USD/KRW exchange rateUS 10-year Treasury yieldKOSPI 200Nasdaq 100WTI crude oil priceDollar IndexBitcoin priceKorea 3-year bond yield

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.