S&P 500 — US Large Cap Index
FTSE 100 — UK Blue Chips
Euro Stoxx 50 — Eurozone Leaders
DAX 40 — German Equities
CAC 40 — French Market Index
Nikkei 225 — Japan Benchmark
Hang Seng — Hong Kong Index
Shanghai Composite — China Mainland
ASX 200 — Australian Market
TSX Composite — Canada Index
Nifty 50 — India Large Cap
STI Index — Singapore Market
KOSPI — South Korea Index
Bovespa — Brazil Equities
JSE Top 40 — South Africa Index
IPC Index — Mexico MarketThe South Korean won weakened just below 1,490 per dollar, extending losses near its weakest level since 2009, as surging oil prices and a broader risk-off mood pressured sentiment. Brent crude jumped above $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022 after Iran’s new leader signaled the Strait of Hormuz should remain closed and attacks on vessels in the region intensified, raising fears of prolonged supply disruptions. Higher energy prices added pressure on the won, as South Korea relies heavily on imported crude, increasing demand for dollars. Global markets also turned risk-averse, with US stocks sliding and Asian equities falling sharply, including the KOSPI. Meanwhile, concerns about the country’s export outlook persisted after the United States launched Section 301 investigations into several major economies, including South Korea, over alleged unfair trade practices tied to excess manufacturing capacity, raising the risk of tariffs on key export sectors.
