EN Home › Market Briefing · published Oct 25, 2026 morning (KST) · prices as of 2026-10-24 close한국어

US 10Y 5.00%, WTI $103 surge: Oct 25 Korea market briefing

WTI crude rose 3.82% to close at 103.27 dollars after President Trump signaled the possibility of further military operations against Iran. On the same day, the US 10-year Treasury yield rose 4.0bp to 5.000%. Today, the indicator to check is whether the Middle East situation keeps affecting oil prices and US yields.

Yesterday's closes

Indicator	Close	Change	%
USD/KRW10-23	1,326.2	-0.3	-0.02%
Dollar Index10-24	101.76	+0.04	+0.04%
USD/JPY10-24	156.85	+0.09	+0.06%
US 10Y Yield10-23	5.000%	+4.0bp	-
Korea 3Y Yield10-23	3.803%	-3.7bp	-
KOSPI 20010-23	862.77	+4.75	+0.55%
Nasdaq 10010-23	28,957.53	-1.16	-0.00%
Nikkei 22510-23	62,693.16	-214.68	-0.34%
Hang Seng10-23	23,093.37	+158.69	+0.69%
DAX10-23	25,181.65	-190.10	-0.75%
WTI Crude10-23	103.27	+3.80	+3.82%
Gold10-23	4,007.90	-52.50	-1.29%
Bitcoin10-25	80,388	-769	-0.95%

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 was 1,326.2 won per dollar, down 0.3 won (0.02%) from the previous day and essentially flat. That is 6.85% below its 100-day average of 1,423.7. The US 10-year Treasury yield rose 4.0bp to 5.000%, above its 100-day average of 4.765%. The Korea 3-year yield, by contrast, fell 3.7bp to 3.803%, moving in the opposite direction to the US. The Dollar Index rose 0.04% to 101.76, and USD/JPY rose 0.06% to 156.85 yen per dollar.

Equities

The KOSPI 200 closed 0.55% higher at 862.77 but remains 23.32% below its 100-day average of 1,125.21. The Nasdaq 100 was at 28,957.53, almost unchanged from the previous day. In Asia, markets were mixed: the Hang Seng rose 0.69% to 23,093.37, while the Nikkei 225 fell 0.34% to 62,693.16. Germany's DAX dropped 0.75% to 25,181.65, the largest decline among the major indices. In Korea, reports said SK Hynix shares rose more than Samsung Electronics after the company announced it had halted plans to list its US subsidiary Solidigm.

Commodities & Crypto

WTI crude surged 3.82% to close at 103.27 dollars, 20.11% above its 100-day average of 85.98 dollars. Gold fell 1.29% to 4,007.90 dollars, below its 100-day average of 4,263.32 dollars. The fact that gold fell despite rising geopolitical tension is worth viewing alongside the rise in yields. Bitcoin (BTC/USDT) was at 80,388 dollars as of 7:00 a.m., down 0.95%.

News and Markets

Reports cited President Trump's deployment of more troops to the Middle East and his hints at further strikes on Iran as the direct cause of yesterday's oil price surge. US news reported that diesel and fertilizer prices have risen sharply since the Iran war, shaking up the election landscape even in farm regions. Higher energy prices add to inflation pressure, so they can be seen as part of the same trend as the rise in the US 10-year Treasury yield. News that UK inflation came in above expectations, raising the likelihood of a rate hike, is also worth noting when looking at European rates and equities. Signals of renewed Russia-Ukraine peace talks and the dispute over contesting the US midterm elections are not yet clearly linked to any particular asset and remain variables to watch.

What to Watch Today

The result of Brazil's presidential runoff held this weekend is a variable that will shape the policy direction of Latin America's largest economy and its relations with the US. Whether US military action involving Iran actually continues is the key variable for WTI crude. Another indicator to check is whether the US 10-year Treasury yield stays near 5.000%. Domestically, how North Korea's announced resumption of loudspeaker broadcasts toward the South and the Defense Ministry's proposal for military talks develop is a geopolitical variable. A US-Ukraine-Russia trilateral working-level meeting is scheduled for early next month in Abu Dhabi.

Yesterday's key world news

Oil prices surge as Trump hints at further strikes on Iran· Geopolitics
Trump signaled possible further military operations against Iran while adding troops in the Middle East, sending Brent to 116 dollars a barrel and the Dow down more than 600 points. The energy price shock is shaking inflation, interest rates and even election outlooks in the US and UK.
Signs of renewed Russia-Ukraine peace talks and Starlink controversy· Geopolitics
Putin agreed in principle to resume peace talks but did not back down on his war aims, and US-Ukraine-Russia trilateral working-level talks are set for early November in Abu Dhabi. Territorial issues remain an obstacle, leaving hopes for a ceasefire uncertain.
US Justice Department sues to block certification of Alaska Senate election· Politics
On Trump's orders, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit to block certification of Alaska's Senate election result, a move critics call unprecedented 11 days before the vote. Growing disputes over contesting the midterms are raising US political risk.
UK national debt tops 3 trillion pounds, inflation at 3.5%· Economy & Markets
UK national debt passed 3 trillion pounds and inflation came in above expectations at 3.5%, making a rate hike in two weeks likely. Ahead of next week's budget, fiscal headroom and confidence in the gilt market are being tested.
Brazil runoff: Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro neck and neck· Politics
Brazil holds a presidential runoff this weekend between Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro, who led the first round by 2 percentage points, with the two candidates effectively tied. The outcome will shape the policy direction of Latin America's largest economy and its relations with the US.

Full country-by-country summaries for Oct 24, 2026 (Korean) →

USD/KRW exchange rateUS 10-year Treasury yieldWTI crude oil priceoil price IranKOSPI 200Nasdaq 100gold 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.