한국어
Briefing › Archive

World briefing — September 29, 2026

As of 2026-09-29

What changed since yesterday

World trends

War & Conflict

As of 29 September 2026 (KST): The biggest changes on 28 September were the Ethiopian government's claim to have taken Alamata, along with accusations of Eritrean, Sudanese and Egyptian involvement, which moved the Tigray front into a government counteroffensive phase, and a Saudi strike on a Taiz market (as claimed by the Houthis), which the Houthis vowed to avenge. Iran held to its conditional 7-day Hormuz reopening position, and Trump's reaffirmed rejection pushed oil prices higher (Brent above $107 intraday). Low-intensity strikes repeated in Gaza and Lebanon, and the killing of 28 people in Nuristan in the Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict is corrected to a Taliban claim.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

Brazil: ahead of the 4 October election, two polls released on 28 September show Lula leading by 5 points in the first round but tied 41-41 in a hypothetical run-off (25 October), making a run-off likely.

Iran nuclear talks: after Trump's rejection of the seven-day Hormuz roadmap, Araghchi meets mediators in New York on 28 September. The US has said there will be no deal without a resolution of the nuclear issue.

Korean Peninsula: the presidential office formally demanded an apology from Ukraine over the disclosure of the North Korean prisoner transfer, and an investigation into a landmine explosion in the DMZ on the western front has begun.

Middle East: National Security Minister Ben-Gvir entered the Al-Aqsa compound during Sukkot, the entire West Bank was sealed off, and about 50 shops in East Jerusalem's Old City were ordered closed.

Disasters: floods in Thailand and Myanmar have killed at least 16 people and affected about 2.5 million. Thailand declared a disaster area in Bangkok, and in Myanmar's southern Launglon a landslide left eight bodies recovered and 20-30 people missing.

Finance & Economy

US stocks fell on Monday 28 September as US-Iran tensions flared again and Treasury yields surged. The S&P 500 closed at 7,683.69 (-0.77%), the Nasdaq at 26,820.38 (-0.92%) and the Dow at 51,481.51 (-0.67%).

The 10-year yield was 5.24% near the close, the highest since 2007, and the 30-year was 5.56%, the highest since 2004. It differs from the 5.21% in a forex report, so it is marked as conflicting.

Oil jumped around 3% after President Trump rejected an Iran peace proposal. WTI was about $95 and Brent about $107, but settlement prices are unconfirmed.

Gold plunged 3% on oil-driven inflation and Fed hike worries to about $4,117-4,150, the lowest since 5 August. The dollar index was at 101.14, near a two-month high.

On its first day back after the Chuseok holiday, the KOSPI closed at 6,889.74 (-2.70%), breaking below 7,000, and USD/KRW rose to ₩1,365.1. Foreign investors net sold ₩3.34 trillion.

The RBA is likely to raise rates by 25bp at its 29 September meeting, but the result is due at 13:30 KST and has not yet been reflected.

Tech & Energy

Energy: After Trump rejected Iran's proposal to reopen Hormuz, Brent rose to $106.9-107.3 (intraday figures) on 28 September. Iran refused to ease its conditions, and normalisation of Hormuz is expected to be delayed.

Hormuz bypass: One analysis says Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline is running at low throughput against capacity of about 7 million barrels a day (not new; in the context of the sharp fall in Chinese crude imports in spring 2026).

Rare earths: One analysis says China's expanded controls remain suspended until November 2026, and no new measures were confirmed.

South Korea's chip exports in September jumped 259% from a year earlier (47.8% of total exports), and third-quarter earnings forecasts for Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix were also raised, indicating the AI memory supercycle is continuing.

Taiwan's TSMC broke ground on the Baifu industrial park in Kaohsiung (21 September) and enlisted its domestic chip equipment and materials partners in a push to build a one-stop R&D-validation-mass production ecosystem.

The EU discussed a draft ‘European Chips Act 2.0’ aimed at reducing its dependence on foreign chips at a Competitiveness Council meeting on 24-25 September, with Germany stepping forward as the largest contributor of funds.

Active conflicts

Key indicators

US Fed Funds Rate3.75~4.00% ―Unchanged as of 28 September (no FOMC meeting this week). Bets on a Fed hike are growing.
S&P 5007,683.69 (-0.77%) ▼Monday 28 September regular-session close. US-Iran tensions and surging yields.
Nasdaq Composite26,820.38 (-0.92%) ▼Regular-session close on 28 September (Mon). The Dow closed at 51,481.51 (-0.67%).
US 10-Year Yield~5.21–5.24% ▲Monday 28 September. Near the close it was 5.24% (+6bp, the highest since 2007), while a forex article put it at 5.21%. The 30-year was 5.56%.
VIX Volatility Index15.67 ―Sources conflict on the 28 September (Mon) close (15.95, +7.27% vs 14.87, -5.1% from a Cboe-affiliated source), so the previous value of 15.67 is kept. The close needs rechecking.
Crude Oil (WTI / Brent)WTI ~$95.11 (+2.92%) / Brent ~$106.9 (+2.5%) ▲28 September (Mon). Trump rejected Iran's peace proposal, and Hormuz concerns persisted. Some outlets showed Brent above $107 and up more than 3% intraday, so there is a discrepancy, and settlement prices are unconfirmed. WTI settlement differs by outlet, at $95-96.
Gold~$4,117–4,150/oz (-3.2%) ▼Spot gold on 28 September (Mon) hit a seven-week low, the lowest since 5 August. It stood at $4,116.70 at the US market close.
Bitcoin~$83,700 ▼Down 1.22% on 28 September (Mon). With 24-hour trading the notion of a close is weak; single source.
KRW/USD₩1,365.1 (28 September close) ▲The Seoul daytime close on 28 September (Mon) was up ₩7.6, with foreign investors selling. The article headline put it in the mid-₩1,360s. As the Seoul daytime close, it predates the New York session.
JPY/USD~¥156.75 ▼28 September (Mon). The yen strengthened slightly after remarks from Mimura, Japan's top currency diplomat, that amounted to verbal intervention (previously 157-158).
EUR/USD~1.1376 ―Monday 28 September. Near a two-month low, down about 2% in September, with the dollar index at 101.14.
KOSPI6,889.74 (-2.70%, 28 September close) ▼Close on the first trading day after the Chuseok holiday. Chip stocks fell about 5%, foreigners net sold ₩3.34 trillion, and the index broke below 6,900.

Key relations

View on the map →
← Previous day (2026-09-28)Next day (2026-09-30) →