EN Home › Market Briefing · published Nov 3, 2026 morning (KST) · prices as of 2026-11-02 close한국어

US 10Y 4.91% lower: Nov 3 Korea market briefing

The US 10-year Treasury yield fell to 4.91% yesterday and the KOSPI 200 rose 2.32%. The Nasdaq 100 dropped 1.39%, so Korean and US stocks went in opposite directions. Today, the variables to watch are the US midterm election results and a possible US strike on Iran on the 4th, and how they affect rates, currencies and oil prices.

Yesterday's closes

Indicator	Close	Change	%
USD/KRW10-30	1,334.3	-5.2	-0.39%
Dollar Index11-02	101.61	-0.12	-0.11%
USD/JPY11-02	157.64	+0.07	+0.04%
US 10Y Yield11-02	4.910%	-3.0bp	-
Korea 3Y Yield11-02	3.740%	+0.9bp	-
KOSPI 20011-02	920.63	+20.85	+2.32%
Nasdaq 10011-02	27,989.82	-395.03	-1.39%
Nikkei 22511-02	63,081.86	-208.25	-0.33%
Hang Seng11-02	23,393.32	+98.90	+0.42%
DAX11-02	25,981.09	+162.88	+0.63%
WTI Crude10-30	104.12	+2.12	+2.08%
Gold10-30	3,898.90	-132.50	-3.29%
Bitcoin11-03	76,832	-1,477	-1.89%

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 on October 30. That is 5.2 won (0.39%) lower than the previous session and 5.64% below its 100-day average of 1,414.1. The Dollar Index slipped 0.11% to 101.61 but is still 0.99% above its 100-day average. USD/JPY rose 0.04% to 157.64 yen per dollar, which is essentially flat. The US 10-year Treasury yield fell 3.0bp to 4.91%. It remains above its 100-day average of 4.79%. The Korea 3-year yield ended 0.9bp higher at 3.74%.

Equities

The KOSPI 200 rose 20.85 points (2.32%) to close at 920.63, the biggest gain among the major indices. It is still 16.18% below its 100-day average of 1,098.37. The Nasdaq 100 fell 1.39% to 27,989.82 and the Nikkei 225 fell 0.33% to 63,081.86. The Hang Seng rose 0.42% to 23,393.32 and Germany's DAX gained 0.63% to 25,981.09. The DAX is the only major index trading above its 100-day average.

Commodities & Crypto

WTI crude rose 2.08% to 104.12 dollars as of its October 30 close, 20.37% above its 100-day average. Gold fell 3.29% on the same day to 3,898.90 dollars, the largest move in today's table, and is 8.14% below its 100-day average. Bitcoin was at 76,832 dollars at 7:00 a.m., down 1.89% from the previous day. The oil and gold prices are October 30 closes, so news released on November 2 may not yet be reflected in them.

News and Markets

Binance suffered the largest hack on record, and the FBI named North Korea as the culprit. This has shaken confidence in the crypto market. Bitcoin fell over the same period. Crypto markets are also watching reports that the hackers are converting the stolen assets into Ethereum. A possible new US strike on Iran is a variable tied directly to oil prices and energy supply chains. However, the WTI price in the table is a close from before these reports, so any impact cannot yet be confirmed. Korea's October exports were the second-largest on record, led by semiconductors. This is useful background for the domestic stock market, but it cannot be called the cause of yesterday's KOSPI 200 gain.

What to Watch Today

The US midterm elections take place today (November 3). The main question is whether the Democrats retake both the Senate and the House. The outcome could change the momentum behind Trump's policies and his decisions on Iran, so the reactions of the US 10-year Treasury yield and the Dollar Index are indicators to check. The US has reportedly told its Gulf allies to prepare for a strike on the 4th, so WTI crude and gold prices are also worth watching. The Financial Services Commission plans an emergency security meeting with domestic crypto exchanges, and its outcome is another item to check. News on the planned US-China-Russia trilateral summit during APEC in Shenzhen on the 18th remains a variable to watch.

Yesterday's key world news

US midterms a day away, Democrats seen retaking both House and Senate· Politics
Democrats lead in most swing states ahead of the November 3 US midterms, and early voting has passed 54 million, a record for a midterm. The outcome could sharply shift the momentum of Trump's policies and his decisions on Iran.
Middle East tensions rise as a renewed US strike on Iran looks more likely· Geopolitics
Trump warned Iran of an 'overwhelming strike', hinting at renewed attacks. The US reportedly told Gulf allies to prepare for a strike on the 4th, the day after the election. A return to war could seriously hit oil prices and energy supply chains.
Binance hit by largest hack ever; FBI names North Korea· Economy & Markets
Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, suffered the largest hack on record, losing about 6.3 billion dollars in 20 minutes. The FBI named North Korea as the culprit. Confidence in crypto markets has been shaken, and security concerns about North Korea's funding are growing.
First-ever US-China-Russia summit in the works, Korean Peninsula on the agenda· Geopolitics
The US, China and Russia are arranging their first-ever three-way summit during APEC in Shenzhen on the 18th. The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and the future of nuclear arms control are likely topics. These talks on reshaping the order among major powers could strongly affect security on the Korean Peninsula.
Gen Z protests in 30-plus German cities spread across Europe· Society
Thousands of young people in more than 30 German cities demanded better education, housing and pensions. More than 100 police officers were injured during looting in Frankfurt. The protests have spread to Spain, France and elsewhere, adding to social unrest in Europe.

Full country-by-country summaries for Nov 2, 2026 (Korean) →

US 10-year Treasury yieldUSD/KRW exchange rateKOSPI 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.