EN Home › Market Briefing · published Nov 1, 2026 morning (KST) · prices as of 2026-10-31 close한국어

USD/KRW 1,334 lower, KOSPI 200 plunges: Nov 1 Korea market briefing

In Friday's (Oct 30) session, USD/KRW fell to 1,334.3 won per dollar. On the same day the KOSPI 200 plunged 3.86% and the Nasdaq 100 dropped 3.46%, while WTI crude rose to 104.12 dollars. The main variables to watch this week are the US midterm elections, now three days away, and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Yesterday's closes

Indicator	Close	Change	%
USD/KRW10-30	1,334.3	-5.2	-0.39%
Dollar Index10-31	101.72	-0.21	-0.21%
USD/JPY10-31	157.57	+0.30	+0.19%
US 10Y Yield10-30	4.940%	-4.0bp	-
Korea 3Y Yield10-30	3.731%	-3.5bp	-
KOSPI 20010-30	899.78	-36.09	-3.86%
Nasdaq 10010-30	28,384.85	-1,017.66	-3.46%
Nikkei 22510-30	63,290.11	-1,369.36	-2.12%
Hang Seng10-30	23,294.42	+335.77	+1.46%
DAX10-30	25,818.21	-221.47	-0.85%
WTI Crude10-30	104.12	+2.12	+2.08%
Gold10-30	3,898.90	-132.50	-3.29%
Bitcoin11-01	77,618	+331	+0.43%

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 1,334.3 won per dollar, down 5.2 won (0.39%) from the previous day. That is 5.64% below its 100-day average of 1,414.1. The Dollar Index fell 0.21% to 101.72, while USD/JPY rose 0.19% to 157.57 yen per dollar. The US 10-year Treasury yield fell 4.0bp to 4.94% but remains above its 100-day average of 4.79%. The Korea 3-year yield also fell 3.5bp to 3.73%, so yields in Korea and the US both moved lower.

Equities

Asian and US stock markets were hit hard. The KOSPI 200 plunged 3.86% to 899.78, putting it 18.36% below its 100-day average of 1,102.13. The Nasdaq 100 fell 3.46% to 28,384.85, and the Nikkei 225 dropped 2.12% to 63,290.11. Germany's DAX lost a more modest 0.85% to 25,818.21. Among the major indices, only the Hang Seng gained, rising 1.46% to 23,294.42, so the picture was mixed.

Commodities & Crypto

WTI crude rose 2.08% to 104.12 dollars, staying 20.37% above its 100-day average of 86.50 dollars. Gold plunged 3.29% to 3,898.90 dollars, 8.14% below its 100-day average of 4,244.40 dollars. Bitcoin stood at 77,618 dollars as of 7:00 a.m., up 0.43% from the previous day. Despite news of a hack at a major exchange, Bitcoin's price had not swung sharply as of that time.

News and Markets

President Trump has signaled an end to the war with Iran, but attacks on tankers continue in the Strait of Hormuz, and the possibility of renewed airstrikes after the midterm elections is being raised. Tension in the strait is a variable tied directly to oil supply concerns and is worth viewing alongside WTI trading well above its 100-day average. Binance, the world's largest exchange, suffered the largest hack on record, with North Korea named as the likely culprit. Binance has pledged to cover all losses, and Korean exchanges have issued notices urging caution when withdrawing to Binance. The incident raises questions of crypto security and trust in exchanges. The news provided does not make it possible to identify the direct cause of Friday's stock market plunge or the drop in gold prices.

What to Watch Today

The US midterm elections are three days away. Analysts see Democrats as likely to retake the House, and there are also concerns that the results may be contested, so any resulting shift in foreign policy is a variable to watch. Progress in the Qatar-mediated talks between the US and Iran and whether the Strait of Hormuz reopens are matters to check alongside WTI crude prices. The effect on Israel's Iran policy of the political instability that followed an election in which no bloc won a majority is another point to watch. The movement and freezing of the funds stolen in the Binance hack, along with Bitcoin's price, are also indicators to check. At home, with the KOSPI 200 far below its 100-day average, it is worth watching whether USD/KRW holds around the 1,334 level.

Yesterday's key world news

Hormuz tension rises between US-Iran talks and possible renewed strikes· Geopolitics
Trump signaled an end to the Iran war but has also been briefed on military options, and a Qatar-mediated draft would reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days. Renewed strikes after the midterms could again unsettle oil prices and Middle East security.
Binance hit by record 6 billion dollar hack, North Korea blamed· Economy & Markets
Binance, the world's largest exchange, suffered a massive hack within 20 minutes, with losses of about 6 billion dollars and only around half frozen. Signs pointing to North Korea are expected to intensify debate over crypto security and sanctions on Pyongyang.
US midterms three days away, Democrats likely to retake the House· Politics
With three days to go, Democrats are favored to retake the House, and the Cook Political Report shifted 12 House seats further toward them. Amid concerns that results could be contested, attention is on possible changes in foreign policy, including the Iran war.
Israeli election yields no majority, Arab parties win record seats· Politics
No bloc secured a majority in Israel's election, with Netanyahu's camp winning 53 seats and Arab parties a record 19. Analysts say the political instability could encourage a harder line on Iran.
High-speed train collision in southern Spain kills 69· Society
Two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain, killing 69 people, and safety management system failures have reached 170 this year. Japanese and Australian nationals are also unaccounted for, fueling international criticism over safety oversight.

Full country-by-country summaries for Oct 31, 2026 (Korean) →

USD/KRW exchange rateUS 10-year Treasury yieldKOSPI 200Nasdaq 100WTI crude oil pricegold priceBitcoin priceUS midterm elections

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.