The won-dollar exchange rate against the U.S. dollar closed at 1,499.7 won on the 25th. It rose 4.5 won from the previous day.
The won-dollar exchange rate opened at 1,493 won, down 2.2 won from the previous day. After falling into the 1,490-won range early in the session, the won-dollar exchange rate turned higher around 11:30 a.m. It climbed to as high as 1,499.6 won around 2:17 p.m., then pared gains before the close of weekly transaction (9 a.m.–3:30 p.m.). It ultimately ended transaction nearly 5 won higher than the previous day.
Recently, the won-dollar exchange rate has been affected by the course of the Middle East war. Overnight reports that the United States would deploy airborne forces to the Middle East appear to have lifted the won-dollar exchange rate. When geopolitical risk rises like this, sentiment toward risk assets weakens and the value of the won tends to fall.
On the 24th (local time), the Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Ministry of National Defense (war department) would deploy elite Army airborne forces to the Middle East. The elite airborne forces here refer to the 82nd Airborne Division, which is known to be able to arrive at any battlefield in the world within 18 hours. The Wall Street Journal also said a written order to deploy 82nd Airborne Division troops to the Middle East within hours would be issued.
On the same day, U.S. President Donald Trump said at the White House during the swearing-in ceremony for the new Secretary of Homeland Security, "In fact, they (Iran) gave us a gift. That gift arrived today." He added, "I'm not going to tell you what the gift is." When asked by a reporter what the "gift" was, he said, "It was not related to nuclear. It was related to oil and gas."
Park Sang-hyun, a researcher at iM Securities, said, "Although reports related to negotiations between the United States and Iran are somewhat mixed, there is a mood that some negotiation is underway for a cease-fire or truce."