EN Home › Market Briefing · published Nov 8, 2026 morning (KST) · prices as of 2026-11-07 close한국어

USD/KRW 1,363 higher, KOSPI 200 plunges: Nov 8 Korea market briefing

Asian stocks fell sharply after the Democrats won a landslide in the US midterm elections, which raised concerns about AI regulation and data center delays. The KOSPI 200 fell 6.51% and the Nikkei 225 fell 5.96%, and USD/KRW rose to 1,363.0 won per dollar. The Nasdaq 100, by contrast, rebounded 1.35%, so the picture differed by region. In the next trading session, the indicators to check are foreign investor flows and how far the government's exemption from collateral ratio rules reduces forced liquidations.

Yesterday's closes

Indicator	Close	Change	%
USD/KRW11-06	1,363.0	+7.5	+0.55%
Dollar Index11-07	102.28	+0.08	+0.08%
USD/JPY11-07	158.48	+0.17	+0.11%
US 10Y Yield11-06	4.860%	+2.0bp	-
Korea 3Y Yield11-06	3.613%	-5.6bp	-
KOSPI 20011-06	783.23	-54.55	-6.51%
Nasdaq 10011-06	26,989.99	+360.18	+1.35%
Nikkei 22511-06	57,434.77	-3,643.13	-5.96%
Hang Seng11-06	24,481.86	-315.12	-1.27%
DAX11-06	25,820.36	-504.65	-1.92%
WTI Crude11-06	90.83	+0.31	+0.34%
Gold11-06	4,074.90	-38.60	-0.94%
Bitcoin11-08	75,723	-89	-0.12%

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 1,363.0 won per dollar on November 6, up 7.5 won (0.55%) from the previous session. That is still 3.03% below its 100-day average of 1,405.5. The Dollar Index edged up 0.08% to 102.28, and USD/JPY rose 0.11% to 158.48 yen per dollar. The US 10-year Treasury yield rose 2.0bp to 4.860%, above its 100-day average of 4.809%. The Korea 3-year yield fell 5.6bp to 3.613%, moving in the opposite direction to US yields.

Equities

The KOSPI 200 plunged 54.55 points (6.51%) to 783.23, leaving it 27.68% below its 100-day average of 1,082.94. The Nikkei 225 also fell 5.96% to 57,434.77, with the steepest losses in Asian markets that carry a heavy weighting in tech stocks. The Hang Seng fell 1.27% to 24,481.86, and Germany's DAX fell 1.92% to 25,820.36. The Nasdaq 100, on the other hand, rose 1.35% to 26,989.99, though it is still 8.37% below its 100-day average. According to Korean news reports, large-cap chip stocks fell sharply, a sell-side sidecar was triggered, and foreign investors were net sellers for a sixth straight session.

Commodities & Crypto

WTI crude rose 0.34% to 90.83 dollars, 4.49% above its 100-day average of 86.93 dollars. Gold fell 0.94% to 4,074.90 dollars, 3.76% below its 100-day average. Gold did not rise even on a day when stocks plunged. Bitcoin was at 75,723 dollars as of 7 a.m., down 0.12% and barely changed.

News and Markets

With the Democrats taking both the Senate and the House, concerns about AI regulation and delays in data center construction grew, and those concerns fed into the sharp falls in the chip-heavy KOSPI 200 and Nikkei 225. US news reports said US stock market capitalization fell steeply before rebounding, and the Nasdaq 100's higher close is in line with that move. US October jobs data came in above expectations, and the US 10-year Treasury yield edged up the same day. Hopes for lower oil prices emerged as the US and Iran explored ceasefire talks, but WTI crude closed slightly higher in the table, so this has not yet clearly shown up in the actual price. The Bank of England's rate hike is being read as a sign that war-driven inflation could spread into monetary tightening.

What to Watch Today

When the Korean market reopens after the weekend, the first thing to check is whether foreign net selling continues. The government has decided to exempt collateral ratio rules for three months to reduce forced liquidations, so how this measure affects supply and demand is another indicator to watch. President Trump keeping his hard line on tariffs and mentioning Korea directly is a variable that could affect exporters and the exchange rate. The Doha ceasefire talks and whether the Strait of Hormuz reopens are factors that will shape the direction of WTI crude and inflation. In the US Congress, an impeachment vote on Defense Secretary Hegseth could be forced as early as next week, so political uncertainty also needs watching.

Yesterday's key world news

Democrats win US midterms in landslide; Trump responds with hardline appointment· Politics
Democrats took both the Senate and the House, with a 13-point House vote margin, roughly double the Republicans' 2010 landslide. Trump named hardliner Miller as chief of staff, pointing to clashes with Congress.
US and Iran explore ceasefire talks as oil prices plunge 20%· Geopolitics
The US and Iran are exploring a ceasefire deal in Doha under Qatari mediation, and oil prices fell 20% on the hopes, though limited US airstrikes continued. Whether the Strait of Hormuz reopens will shape oil prices and global inflation.
AI bubble fears hit global tech stocks; KOSPI falls below 5,000· Economy & Markets
The Democratic win raised fears of AI regulation and data center delays, sending tech stocks sharply lower and wiping out more than 2.5 trillion dollars of US market value in a day. The vulnerability of AI-driven growth has increased global market volatility.
Bank of England raises rates unanimously amid war-driven inflation pressure· Economy & Markets
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted unanimously to raise its benchmark rate, and the household energy price cap is expected to rise sharply due to the Iran war. It signals that war-driven inflation could push major economies back toward tightening.
Melania brokers six-day Russia-Ukraine ceasefire in Oleshky· Geopolitics
A six-day ceasefire in Oleshky, Kherson region, was reached through Melania Trump's mediation and is seen as the most meaningful truce since 2022. Trump has signaled a large-scale peace deal, drawing attention to possible shifts in European security.

Full country-by-country summaries for Nov 7, 2026 (Korean) →

USD/KRW exchange rateUS 10-year Treasury yieldKOSPI 200Nasdaq 100Nikkei 225Korea 3-year yieldWTI crude oil priceUS midterm elections stock market

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.