EN Home › Market Briefing · published Oct 18, 2026 morning (KST) · prices as of 2026-10-17 close한국어

USD/KRW 1,337 lower, WTI 99 dollars: Oct 18 Korea market briefing

On the last trading day of last week (October 16), USD/KRW fell 0.41% to 1,336.5 won per dollar. The same day, the KOSPI 200 rose 2.03% and the Nasdaq 100 fell 2.50%. WTI crude rose 2.61% to close at 99.02 dollars. The main thing to check this week is whether news from the Middle East and Russia keeps affecting oil prices.

Yesterday's closes

Indicator	Close	Change	%
USD/KRW10-16	1,336.5	-5.5	-0.41%
Dollar Index10-17	101.79	+0.12	+0.12%
USD/JPY10-17	158.00	+0.08	+0.05%
US 10Y Yield10-16	5.090%	-1.0bp	-
Korea 3Y Yield10-16	3.854%	-1.3bp	-
KOSPI 20010-16	878.16	+17.46	+2.03%
Nasdaq 10010-16	29,187.55	-748.05	-2.50%
Nikkei 22510-16	65,324.29	+898.34	+1.39%
Hang Seng10-16	24,186.83	+124.11	+0.52%
DAX10-16	25,622.61	+239.99	+0.95%
WTI Crude10-16	99.02	+2.52	+2.61%
Gold10-16	4,181.10	+11.00	+0.26%
Bitcoin10-18	81,050	-531	-0.65%

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 1,336.5 won per dollar on October 16. That is 5.5 won (0.41%) lower than the previous close of 1,342.0 won, and 6.77% below the 100-day average of 1,433.6 won. The Dollar Index rose 0.12% to close at 101.79 on October 17. USD/JPY edged up 0.05% to 158.00 yen per dollar. The US 10-year Treasury yield fell 1.0bp to 5.090% but is still above its 100-day average of 4.735%. The Korea 3-year yield fell 1.3bp to 3.854%, close to its 100-day average of 3.848%.

Equities

On October 16, the KOSPI 200 rose 17.46 points (2.03%) to 878.16. It is still 23.17% below its 100-day average of 1,142.95. The same day, the Nasdaq 100 fell 748.05 points (2.50%) to close at 29,187.55, which puts it 1.46% below its 100-day average. In Asia, the Nikkei 225 rose 1.39% to 65,324.29 and the Hang Seng rose 0.52% to 24,186.83. In Europe, Germany's DAX rose 0.95% to close at 25,622.61, 0.78% above its 100-day average. In short, US tech stocks were the only weak spot that day, while Asian and European markets rose.

Commodities & Crypto

WTI crude rose 2.52 dollars (2.61%) to close at 99.02 dollars on October 16, the biggest move of any asset in the market table. It is 15.77% above its 100-day average of 85.53 dollars. Gold rose 0.26% to 4,181.10 dollars but is 2.41% below its 100-day average of 4,284.44 dollars. As of 7:00 a.m. today, Bitcoin was at 81,050 dollars, down 0.65% from the previous daily close of 81,581 dollars at 09:00.

News and Markets

Houthi rebels attacked the area near the presidential palace in Aden, Yemen, with missiles and drones, raising concern that Saudi oil facilities could be targeted. Reports also said unease is spreading in energy markets. Another factor for energy markets is the strain on coordinated sanctions against Russia after President Trump allowed sales of Russian diesel. However, this news came out on October 17, so it was not reflected in the October 16 closing prices. It should therefore be seen as something that could move oil prices on the next trading day, not as the direct cause of WTI's rise. The Korean government is also reviewing a plan to extend the Cheonghae Unit's area of operations to the Gulf of Oman, just outside the Strait of Hormuz. This is another sign that risks to Middle East shipping routes have grown.

What to Watch Today

Major markets are closed today because it is Sunday. The first indicator to check is how WTI crude moves from 99.02 dollars on the next trading day. Further news on the Houthi rebels and Saudi oil facilities is a variable to watch. Other indicators to check are whether the US 10-year Treasury yield, which has fallen for two days in a row, keeps moving from 5.090%, and which way USD/KRW goes from 1,336.5 won per dollar. Another point to watch is whether the Nasdaq 100's 2.50% drop spreads to Asian markets. Scheduled variables include when the motion to approve the Cheonghae Unit deployment goes to the National Assembly, the referendum in Alberta, Canada, and US politics ahead of next month's midterm elections.

Yesterday's key world news

Trump's Russian diesel deal draws controversy and backlash from Ukraine· Geopolitics
Trump is under heavy criticism for allowing sales of Russian diesel. Zelensky said he felt betrayed and asked the EU for an extra 102 trillion won in support, and the strain on coordinated sanctions against Russia adds uncertainty for energy markets and the war.
Houthi attack on Aden, Yemen opens a new front in the Iran war· Geopolitics
Houthi rebels attacked the area near the presidential palace in Aden with missiles and drones, killing at least two people and injuring six. The growing threat to Saudi oil facilities is spreading unease in energy markets.
New White House press secretary fired after four days, adding to political turmoil before midterms· Politics
The new White House press secretary was fired four days into the job over claims of a false résumé and remarks disparaging China, which drew a formal protest from China's foreign ministry. The episode could hurt the race for the Senate majority in next month's midterms.
Alberta separation referendum nears as Prime Minister Carney warns about the US· Geopolitics
Ahead of the Alberta vote, Prime Minister Carney urged Albertans to stay in Canada. The vote will decide whether to start the legal process for a separation referendum, testing Canada's unity in the middle of a trade war with the US.
Korea considers extending Cheonghae Unit operations to the Gulf of Oman off Hormuz· Geopolitics
The government is reviewing a plan to extend the Cheonghae Unit's area of operations to the Gulf of Oman. It plans to add one maritime patrol aircraft and send a deployment motion to the National Assembly soon. If intelligence is linked with US forces, it could amount to an indirect deployment into the Middle East conflict.

Full country-by-country summaries for Oct 17, 2026 (Korean) →

USD/KRW exchange rateUS 10-year Treasury yieldKOSPI 200Nasdaq 100WTI crude oil priceKorea 3-year yieldBitcoin pricegold 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.