ECONOMY BOARD
Economy Board
Industry, markets, energy, and technology are read as one economic current.
Global Economy Top 10 2026-08-26
Basis: 2026-08-25 05:30 KST - 2026-08-26 05:30 KST
1. Following the US Treasury Department's announcement of sanctions on Iran, international oil prices fell and China protested. As of 8:00 AM US Eastern Time on August 25, Brent crude fell about 4.15 percent to $90.21 per barrel, and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell to the $82 range. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the sanctions only escalate tensions and that it will take necessary measures to protect its rights and interests. China purchases about 90 percent of Iranian crude oil.
Korea impact: The drop in oil prices eases the import burden on South Korea, which imports crude oil.
2. Gold and silver rose again, heating up the metal market. On August 25, December gold opened at $4,710.10 per ounce, the highest in three months, and spot gold was about $4,697 as of 7:52 AM US Eastern Time. Silver has risen about 20 percent since the beginning of August, touching $70 per ounce at one point. The US Treasury Department's expansion of long-term government bond purchases pushed up metal prices.
3. US stock markets rose, driven by a rebound in semiconductor stocks. On August 25, the Dow closed up 160.24 points at 53,577.40, the S&P 500 rose 0.32 percent to 7,677.28, and the Nasdaq rose 0.66 percent to 26,151.30. Nvidia rose 1.5 percent, rising for the first time in eight trading days, and will report earnings after the market close on August 26.
Korea impact: The rebound in semiconductor stocks serves as a benchmark for reading the status of the South Korean semiconductor industry.
4. US government bond yields fell for the second consecutive day. On August 25, the 10-year Treasury yield fell by more than 7 bps to record 4.625 percent. This was influenced by the Treasury Department increasing its purchases of long-term government bonds to suppress yields.
5. Germany's August Ifo Business Climate Index rose to 88.8, the highest in six months. It rose from 86.7 in July, exceeding the forecast of 87.2, and both the current situation index and the expectations index rose. The publishing institution stated that the German economy is recovering despite energy prices rising again.
Korea impact: Germany's economic recovery helps exports to Germany.
6. The US August Consumer Confidence Index fell to 89.4, the lowest since January. It declined from 90.2 in July, and the expectations index fell sharply to 68.2. New home sales for July, released on the same day, averaged 642,500 units in June and July, showing a weakening trend this year.
7. The Jackson Hole Symposium will be held from August 27 to 29. Fed Chair Warsh will deliver his first keynote address since taking office on August 28. The market views this speech as a compass, seeing about a one-third probability of a rate hike in September. This year's theme is financial innovation and payments.
8. The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.3 percent on August 25. The fall in oil prices supported investment sentiment by easing the burden on inflation and the government bond market.
9. Japan's Nikkei 225 closed slightly higher on August 25. The index finished 0.11 percent higher at 65,598.68.
10. International copper prices rose 0.96 percent to $6.66 per pound on August 25. This is about 5 percent higher than a month ago and about 49 percent higher than a year ago.
Korea impact: The rise in copper prices increases the cost of the Korean manufacturing industry that makes wires and components.
US stocks rose across all three major indices due to a rebound in semiconductor stocks. The Dow was at 53,577.40, the S&P 500 at 7,677.28, and the Nasdaq at 26,151.30. The US 10-year Treasury yield fell for the second day to 4.625 percent, and the dollar showed weakness. The European STOXX 600 rose 0.3 percent, and Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.11 percent.
The Fed's Jackson Hole Symposium begins on August 27, and Chair Warsh's first keynote speech is scheduled for the 28th. The market sees the probability of a September rate hike at about one-third. The US Treasury Department suppressed long-term interest rates by expanding purchases of long-term government bonds, and this measure lowered both yields and the dollar.
Brent crude fell about 4.15 percent to $90.21 per barrel, and WTI was in the $82 range. Calculations were mixed over the impact that sanctions on Iran would have on crude oil flows. December gold reached a three-month high at $4,710.10 per ounce, and silver rose about 20 percent since the beginning of August, reaching $70. Copper is at $6.66 per pound, about 49 percent higher than a year ago.
Nvidia reports its second-quarter earnings after the market closes on August 26. The market expects revenue of $93 billion to $95 billion. On the same day, US July durable goods orders will be released. The Jackson Hole Symposium opens on August 27, and Chair Warsh's first speech is scheduled for the 28th.
•https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/25/business/us-sanctions-iran-oil-china
•https://fortune.com/article/price-of-oil-08-25-2026/
•https://www.mining.com/silver-price-20-august-surge-sends-miners-soaring/
•https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/24/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
•https://www.ifo.de/en/ifo-business-climate-index-germany-august-2026
•https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/copper