- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law.
- The SK Parliament passed a resolution to lift the martial law.
- USD/SKW hit a two-year high before retracing, remains biased higher
Political tensions hit the South Korean Won
The South Korean Won (SKW) fell against the US Dollar (USD), resulting in the USD/SKW pair hitting a two-year high of 1,444.93. The pair now retreated towards 1,420 but holds on to sharp intraday gains, providing an unexpected boost to the American currency during American trading hours, amid fresh risk-aversion.
“I declare martial law to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces that are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people, and to protect the free constitutional order,” Yoon said, according to a Reuters.
Mounting political turmoil hit the SKW as President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. The late retracement came after the local Parliament passed a resolution to demand the lifting of martial law. Nevertheless, the latest news from the country showed the army closed the Parliament and was clearing lawmakers out of the representatives’ building.
USD/KRW Technical outlook
The USD/KWR pair remains quite volatile, and given the ongoing political uncertainty, the risk skews to the upside. The pair posted a record high of 1,472.46 in October 2022, a potential bullish target and break-out point. Additional gains should see the pair testing the 1,500 threshold.
Should tensions cool down, near-term support lies at 1,419.36, the intraday low, followed by 1,403.68, the December 2 daily high.
Risk sentiment FAQs
In the world of financial jargon the two widely used terms “risk-on” and “risk off'' refer to the level of risk that investors are willing to stomach during the period referenced. In a “risk-on” market, investors are optimistic about the future and more willing to buy risky assets. In a “risk-off” market investors start to ‘play it safe’ because they are worried about the future, and therefore buy less risky assets that are more certain of bringing a return, even if it is relatively modest.
Typically, during periods of “risk-on”, stock markets will rise, most commodities – except Gold – will also gain in value, since they benefit from a positive growth outlook. The currencies of nations that are heavy commodity exporters strengthen because of increased demand, and Cryptocurrencies rise. In a “risk-off” market, Bonds go up – especially major government Bonds – Gold shines, and safe-haven currencies such as the Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc and US Dollar all benefit.
The Australian Dollar (AUD), the Canadian Dollar (CAD), the New Zealand Dollar (NZD) and minor FX like the Ruble (RUB) and the South African Rand (ZAR), all tend to rise in markets that are “risk-on”. This is because the economies of these currencies are heavily reliant on commodity exports for growth, and commodities tend to rise in price during risk-on periods. This is because investors foresee greater demand for raw materials in the future due to heightened economic activity.
The major currencies that tend to rise during periods of “risk-off” are the US Dollar (USD), the Japanese Yen (JPY) and the Swiss Franc (CHF). The US Dollar, because it is the world’s reserve currency, and because in times of crisis investors buy US government debt, which is seen as safe because the largest economy in the world is unlikely to default. The Yen, from increased demand for Japanese government bonds, because a high proportion are held by domestic investors who are unlikely to dump them – even in a crisis. The Swiss Franc, because strict Swiss banking laws offer investors enhanced capital protection.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended content
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD hovers above 1.0500 amid French political jitters
EUR/USD is trading modestly flat above 1.0500 in the early European morning on Wednesday. The pair gyrates in a familiar range amid a broadly stable US Dollar and French political uncertainty, as the government faces a no-confidence vote in a busy day ahead.
GBP/USD clings to gains below 1.2700 ahead of Bailey's speech
GBP/USD is consolidating gains below 1.2700 in early European trading on Wednesday. Traders refrain from placing fresh bets ahead of speeches from BoE Governor Bailey and Fed Chair Powell later in the day. US ADP Jobs and ISM Services PMI data are also awaited.
Gold price slides below $2,640, fresh daily low ahead of Fed Chair Powell's speech
Gold price attracts some sellers following an intraday uptick to the $2,650 supply zone and hits a fresh daily low during the first half of the European session on Wednesday. The precious metal, however, remains confined in a familiar range held over the past week or so as traders seem reluctant to place aggressive directional bets ahead of Fed Chair Jerome Powell's speech.
ADP report expected to show US private sector job growth cooled in November
The ADP Employment Change report is seen showing a deceleration of job creation in the US private sector in November. The ADP report could anticipate the more relevant Nonfarm Payrolls report on Friday.
The fall of Barnier’s government would be bad news for the French economy
This French political stand-off is just one more negative for the euro. With the eurozone economy facing the threat of tariffs in 2025 and the region lacking any prospect of cohesive fiscal support, the potential fall of the French government merely adds to views that the ECB will have to do the heavy lifting in 2025.
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads
VERIFIED Low spreads are crucial for reducing trading costs. Explore top Forex brokers offering competitive spreads and high leverage. Compare options for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and Gold.