EN Home › Market Briefing · published Oct 22, 2026 morning (KST) · prices as of 2026-10-21 close한국어

US 10Y 5.13% higher, USD/KRW 1,326: Oct 22 Korea market briefing

The US 10-year Treasury yield rose 1.0bp to 5.130% yesterday and stayed at an elevated level. In the market table, the Nasdaq 100 and Germany's DAX rose while the Hang Seng fell. The table shows the KOSPI 200 up 3.76%, but Korean news reported a sharp fall in the KOSPI. Today's first step is to re-check the domestic stock market data.

Yesterday's closes

Indicator	Close	Change	%
USD/KRW10-20	1,326.0	-7.1	-0.53%
Dollar Index10-21	101.76	+0.12	+0.12%
USD/JPY10-21	158.09	+0.13	+0.08%
US 10Y Yield10-21	5.130%	+1.0bp	-
Korea 3Y Yield10-21	3.822%	-1.8bp	-
KOSPI 20010-21	891.04	+32.26	+3.76%
Nasdaq 10010-21	29,822.52	+332.24	+1.13%
Nikkei 22510-21	64,621.24	+545.82	+0.85%
Hang Seng10-21	23,651.87	-215.87	-0.90%
DAX10-21	25,645.04	+340.62	+1.35%
WTI Crude10-20	97.82	-0.72	-0.73%
Gold10-20	4,142.60	-17.50	-0.42%
Bitcoin10-22	84,770	+1,780	+2.14%

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 1,326.0 won per dollar, down 7.1 won (0.53%) from the previous day. This figure is the October 20 close, however, so it does not yet reflect yesterday's moves. It is 7.27% below the 100-day average of 1,430.0. The Dollar Index rose 0.12% to 101.76, and USD/JPY edged up 0.08% to 158.09 yen per dollar. The US 10-year Treasury yield rose 1.0bp to 5.130%, well above its 100-day average of 4.755%. The Korea 3-year yield fell 1.8bp to 3.822%, moving in the opposite direction to US yields.

Equities

According to the market table, the KOSPI 200 rose 32.26 points (3.76%) to 891.04. Korean news yesterday, however, reported that the KOSPI fell sharply as foreign and institutional investors sold heavily on doubts about AI investment. Because the table and the news point in opposite directions, the actual closing level should be re-checked before today's open. In the US, the Nasdaq 100 rose 1.13% to 29,822.52. Germany's DAX gained 1.35% to 25,645.04, and Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.85% to 64,621.24. Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.90% to 23,651.87, the weak spot among the major indices.

Commodities & Crypto

WTI crude fell 0.73% to 97.82 dollars per barrel but remains 14.12% above its 100-day average of 85.72 dollars. Gold fell 0.42% to 4,142.60 dollars per ounce, 3.15% below its 100-day average. Both commodities are based on October 20 closes, so yesterday's Middle East news is not yet reflected. As of 7:00 a.m., Bitcoin was at 84,770 dollars, up 2.14% from the previous 9:00 a.m. close. That was the second-largest gain in this market table.

News and Markets

News that the US 10-year Treasury yield has topped 5% matches the 5.130% shown in the market table. Concerns about the fiscal deficit are cited as a factor pushing long-term yields higher. In Korea, doubts about the sustainability of AI investment were blamed for weakness in large-cap chip stocks. This does not match the rise in the KOSPI 200 shown in the table, so cause and effect are hard to pin down. The Houthi attack on Saudi oil facilities is a source of unease for energy markets. However, the WTI price is dated before the attack, so no price reaction can be confirmed yet. The protests in France were reported as a risk-off factor for Europe, yet the DAX actually rose in the market table.

What to Watch Today

The first thing to check is whether yesterday's KOSPI 200 close actually rose or fell. Another variable to watch is whether the US 10-year Treasury yield holds above 5.130%, and how that affects tech stocks such as the Nasdaq 100. With Houthi attacks continuing, it is worth checking how WTI crude reacts starting with yesterday's trading. Once USD/KRW is updated with figures after October 20, it is an indicator to check against the Dollar Index's rise. Other variables to check include the outcome of Ukraine peace talks from envoy Witkoff's visit to Moscow and the state of the US midterm election race.

Yesterday's key world news

Violent protests spread across France; curfews and troop deployment announced· Politics
Protests in France that began over education budget cuts have grown into nationwide riots, with night curfews imposed in 13 areas and about 2,500 people arrested. Rising government bond yields and fears of spread across Europe have deepened global risk aversion.
Envoy Witkoff heads to Moscow after Oslo meeting as Ukraine peace talks resume· Geopolitics
US envoy Witkoff met Zelensky in Oslo before heading to Moscow, while Zelensky offered a new proposal and suggested a US-Russia-Ukraine three-way summit. Growing US pressure on Ukraine is unsettling the course of the war and European security.
US 10-year Treasury yield tops 5% and AI investment doubts trigger stock sell-off· Economy & Markets
The US 10-year Treasury yield rose above 5%, its highest since 2007, while the KOSPI plunged 3.7% to close at 5,552 on doubts about AI investment. Combined worries about fiscal deficits and an AI bubble raise the risk of a global asset price correction.
Two weeks before US midterms, Republican strongholds tighten as Trump approval hits low· Politics
Ahead of the November 3 midterms, even the Republican stronghold of Kansas is a close race, and Trump's approval rating has fallen to 31%, the lowest of his political career. A shift in congressional power will shape US policy on tariffs and fiscal matters.
Houthi-Saudi clashes escalate as Saudi oil facilities are hit· Geopolitics
Houthi rebels attacked Saudi oil and aviation facilities six times in 48 hours, and the UK sent air force units to Saudi Arabia on a defensive mission. Combined with the Iran war, this could add to instability in oil prices and energy markets.

Full country-by-country summaries for Oct 21, 2026 (Korean) →

USD/KRW exchange rateUS 10-year Treasury yieldKOSPI 200Nasdaq 100WTI crude oil priceBitcoin priceGermany DAXKorea 3-year 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.