EN Home › Market Briefing · published Nov 4, 2026 morning (KST) · prices as of 2026-11-03 close한국어

USD/KRW 1,346, US 10Y 4.95% higher: Nov 4 Korea market briefing

Yesterday the won weakened against the dollar and the US 10-year Treasury yield rose, while the KOSPI 200 plunged 3.80%. WTI crude fell 7.36% after Iran proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The main variable today is the outcome of the US midterm election count, and how it shifts expectations for tariff and energy policy.

Yesterday's closes

Indicator	Close	Change	%
USD/KRW11-02	1,346.0	+11.7	+0.88%
Dollar Index11-03	101.77	+0.16	+0.16%
USD/JPY11-03	158.27	+0.63	+0.40%
US 10Y Yield11-03	4.950%	+4.0bp	-
Korea 3Y Yield11-03	3.726%	-1.4bp	-
KOSPI 20011-03	885.67	-34.96	-3.80%
Nasdaq 10011-03	28,180.26	+190.44	+0.68%
Nikkei 22511-02	63,081.86	-208.25	-0.33%
Hang Seng11-03	23,525.97	+132.65	+0.57%
DAX11-03	25,864.62	-116.47	-0.45%
WTI Crude11-02	96.46	-7.66	-7.36%
Gold11-02	3,969.60	+70.70	+1.81%
Bitcoin11-04	77,890	+1,104	+1.44%

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 1,346.0 won per dollar on November 2, up 11.7 won (0.88%) from the previous day. That is still 4.70% below its 100-day average of 1,412.4. The Dollar Index rose 0.16% to 101.77, and USD/JPY climbed 0.40% to 158.27 yen per dollar, so the dollar was strong across the board. The US 10-year Treasury yield rose 4.0bp to 4.950%, above its 100-day average of 4.797%. The Korea 3-year yield, by contrast, fell 1.4bp to 3.726%, so Korean and US rates moved in opposite directions.

Equities

The KOSPI 200 fell 34.96 points (3.80%) to 885.67, the biggest decline among the major indices, and is now 19.14% below its 100-day average of 1,095.36. The Nasdaq 100 rose 0.68% to 28,180.26, and the Hang Seng gained 0.57% to 23,525.97. Germany's DAX slipped 0.45% to 25,864.62, and the Nikkei 225 fell 0.33% to 63,081.86 at its November 2 close. Regional markets went in different directions, but Korean stocks were notably weak.

Commodities & Crypto

WTI crude plunged 7.66 dollars (7.36%) to 96.46 dollars per barrel at its November 2 close. It is still 11.44% above its 100-day average of 86.56 dollars. Gold rose 1.81% to 3,969.60 dollars but remains 6.44% below its 100-day average of 4,242.76 dollars. As of 07:00 KST, Bitcoin was at 77,890 dollars, up 1.44% from the previous daily close at 09:00 KST.

News and Markets

Iran offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the US carries out its side of a deal. Hopes for negotiations grew, and WTI crude dropped sharply in a single day. Still, undisclosed US airstrikes are continuing and Ukraine has resumed attacks on Russian refineries, so worries about energy supply have returned. The Reserve Bank of Australia raised its benchmark rate for the fifth time this year. Markets read this as a sign that major economies are tightening again, which puts pressure on global interest rates. The US midterm result will help decide whether the Iran war and high tariffs continue, so it is a variable tied directly to oil prices and the dollar.

What to Watch Today

Voting has begun in the US midterm elections. The first things to check are how the count develops and which party wins control of the House and the Senate. Another variable for risk appetite in financial markets is whether talk of contesting the result or claims of election fraud grow into real disputes. It is also worth watching whether the Iran-US talks lead to an actual agreement, and how any lifting of the maritime blockade shows up in WTI crude prices. In Korea, the National Assembly begins reviewing next year's budget, and the debate between the ruling and opposition parties over the Future Response Fund is a key item on the schedule. Other indicators to check are whether the KOSPI 200 recovers after its sharp fall, and how USD/KRW and the US 10-year Treasury yield move.

Yesterday's key world news

US midterm voting begins, Democrats favored to retake the House· Politics
Voting has begun in the US midterms, seen as a verdict on Trump's second term. Analysts put Democrats' odds of retaking the House at 84% and the Senate at 64%. The result will help decide whether the Iran war and high tariffs continue.
Iran offers '2-day plan' to reopen Hormuz; oil plunges 7%· Geopolitics
Iran proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz on condition that the US carries out a deal, and hopes for talks sent oil prices down about 7% in one day. Undisclosed US airstrikes are continuing, so energy markets remain very volatile.
Reserve Bank of Australia raises rate to 4.85%, its fifth hike this year· Economy & Markets
The RBA raised its benchmark rate to 4.85%, the highest since 2008, and economists put the chance of a recession at around 50%. Markets see it as a sign that major economies are tightening again, which weighs on house prices and global interest rates.
Kherson local ceasefire ends as Russia and Ukraine resume strikes on energy facilities· Geopolitics
A six-day local ceasefire in Kherson, brokered by the US first lady and the Pope, has ended. Ukraine evacuated 167 civilians during the truce. Attacks on Russian refineries have resumed, adding to worries about energy supply.
Massive hack hits supermarket refrigeration systems in 7 European countries· Tech & Industry
A cyberattack hit refrigeration and freezer systems at supermarkets in seven European countries, with temperatures in Belgium rising as high as 50 degrees. The attack shows how exposed critical infrastructure such as food distribution networks is.

Full country-by-country summaries for Nov 3, 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.