Global Market Update — March 30, 2026

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1. Korea Market Briefing

• KOSPI down ~12% this month — worst among major markets: According to a report by Financial News (March 30), geopolitical tensions have hammered the local market, causing the KOSPI to drop about 12% this month—the steepest decline among major global indices.

• Retail investors step in to "buy the dip": As the sell-off deepened, retail investors stepped in to support the market. Meanwhile, Kim Jong-min, an analyst at Samsung Securities, highlighted that investors should keep a close eye on Samsung Electronics' Q1 earnings announcement coming in early April.

• KOSPI expected to trade between 5,300–6,000 this week: According to a Digital Times report (March 29), the local market is likely to remain volatile due to the US-Iran geopolitical risk and upcoming major economic data. With employment, manufacturing, and export reports on the horizon, the KOSPI is expected to fluctuate within the 5,300–6,000 range.

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2. US Market Trends

• Dow Jones enters correction territory: A CNBC report from March 29 confirmed that the Dow Jones Industrial Average officially entered correction territory last Friday (March 28), joining the Nasdaq in a downward trend.

• Futures remain flat ahead of a short trading week: According to Yahoo Finance (March 30), Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq futures held steady as investors brace for a shortened week dominated by employment data and uncertainty over the Iran conflict. The report noted that inconsistent policy responses from the Trump administration continue to rattle markets as the conflict enters its second month.

• Warning of potential S&P 500 correction: A March 27 CNBC report warned that as the war enters its fifth week, investor anxiety is mounting, raising concerns that the S&P 500 may be the next index to enter a full-blown correction.

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3. Global Macro & Market Drivers

• US-Iran war risks keep oil prices high: The conflict between the US and Iran continues to drive volatility in oil prices, directly impacting Korea’s trade-dependent industries. Yonhap News (March 27) analyzed that the uncertainty surrounding this war is the primary factor pinning the KOSPI around the 5,300 level.

• Gold prices rebound on hopes for negotiations: According to a March 26 market report from Samsung Gold, gold (XAU/USD) prices rebounded to near $4,500 following a sharp drop, as investors responded to potential negotiation prospects and falling US Treasury yields.

• Employment/Manufacturing data to signal inflation risks: This week's upcoming data releases will be key to gauging inflationary pressures. According to T. Rowe Price’s global market weekly update, recent reports show a clear uptick in inflation, with input costs rising at the fastest pace in 10 months and companies passing on costs to consumers at the fastest rate since 2022.

※ Note: All figures are recorded verbatim; '—' is used where data is unavailable.