By Ian Werther in News — 14 Mar 2026

South Korea won breaches 1,500 per dollar amid Middle East tensions

The won briefly moved above 1,500 per dollar in overnight trading on March 4, with an intraday high of 1,506.5 won per dollar—the first breach above 1,500 since March 2009—as risk-off sentiment grew amid concerns over a prolonged conflict in the Middle East and rising oil prices. The move reflected broader demand for safe assets as geopolitical tensions intensified.

By the nighttime session on March 13, the pair rose again to 1,500.1 won per dollar, the seventh trading day after the initial breach, underscoring renewed volatility in the currency pair driven by global risk sentiment and a stronger dollar.

In weekly trading on the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won closed at 1,493.7 per dollar, up 12.5 won from the previous session. The day’s trade began at 1,490.6, up 9.4 won from the prior close, and then fluctuated in the 1,490s before a late-day advance.

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F. W. BOLGIANO,
OLGIANO'S BALTIMORE NUTMEG CANTALOUPE.
IF tOU WANT PEDIGREE STOCK SEND TO HEADQUAirrERS FOR YOUR SEED.
A first-class melon ; has size, form, beauty
and rich in flavor. Why grow a poor crop
when a small outlay for good seed will as-
sure a splendid crop of choicest fruit, which
will command the highest prices and ready
sales ? Our seed this year is from the best
crop we ever grew, and with our seed your
crop may be equally as good. The best of
all for market purposes. Our seed is from
the finest stock known, and has always
given satisfaction. North, South, East and
West are now sending for Baltimore Nut-
meg, and the uniform testimony awards it
unequalled excellence.
Packet, 5c. Ounce, lOc. Quarter pound,
15c. Pound, 50c.
I bought from you Kome Baltimore JSutmeg
Cantaloupe seeds which gave splendid satisfac-
tion. I have tried many high-priced melons,
hut none so good as yours.
Jan. 21, '98. R. S. CAMERON, Va.
•/
WATERMELON.
T^o to Three Pounds to the Acre.
^ / Special Prices in Quantity.
-4^ Blue Gem Watermelon. — The Blue Gem is a luscious addition to the melon family. Growers and ship-
pers welcomed it because of its sweet flavor, large and uniform size. No melon sold for better prices nor gave
more general satisfaction tlie past season. Sucli was the demand for Blue Gem seed the supply of seed was ex-
hausted early in Spring. When growers, shippers and consumers agree in favor of the excellence as they do
wUfh the Blue Gem there cannot be any mistake about its merits. Packets. 5c. Ounce, 10c. Quarter pound,
ape. Half pound, 30c. Pound, 50c.
» / Gray Monarch or Long- White Icing*. — This distinct melon is Avithout a doubt one of the largest of
V/all, frequently attaining a weight of seventy pounds and over. The skin is mottled gray color, shape long, flesh
bright crimson and of sweet, delicious flavor. It is also a fine shipper, carrying well long distances and bring-
ing very high prices. Packets, 5 and ll c. Quarter pound, 15c. Half pound, 25c. Pound, 40c.
Southern Rattlesnake. — Has gained great popularity throughout the entire country for its large size
and fine shipping qualities ; shape oblong, of light green color and beautifully mottled and striped with a light
shade; flesh scarlet, rind thin, very solid and both sweet and delicious ; stands transit well. Packet, 5c. Ounce^
/Oc. Quarter pound, 15c. Half pound, 25c. Pound, 40c.
Cuban Queen. — A large variety, weighini? 80 pounds and upw^ards. The rind is marked with regular
stripes of light and dark green. It is a very showy variety or fair quality. Packet, 5c. Ounce, 10c. Quarte
pound, 15c. Half pound, 25c. Pound, 40c.
I / L.uke Jones Watermelon.— The largest, most prolific and finest quality of auy Avatermelon in existence. For home use
Ironeof the finest, and its shipping qualities are unexcelled. Packet,5c. Ounce, 10c. Quarter pound. 15c. Half pound, 25c. Pound40c.
Pride of Geor iia.— The rind is a dark green, shape nearly oval and ridged like an orange. Flesh rich scarlet, very sweet and
Ibpi attains a large size and a good shipper. Packets, 5c. and 10c. Quarter pound, lac. Half Pound, 25c. Pound, 40c.
Kolb's Gem AVatermelon.— Our stock is from headquarters. This is one of the largest, most prolific, best shipping and keep-
ing tnelons ever introduced. So popular did it become that we were unable to fill all our orders in the past three years. The
rind is very thin, but tough ; flesh bright red and flavor excellent. In our long experience we have never knoAvn any melon to
introduce itself so quickly to growers and shippers. After another year's trial it is more valued than ever. Packet, 5c. Ounce,
10c. Quarter pound, 15c. Half pound, 20c. Pound, 30c.
. New Dixie Watermelon.— Soon became a favorite because of its own merits. It has a large si^. handsome form, dark
green rind, with beautiful striping ; its flesh is scarlet, melting and very sweet. It is very productivy^and one of the best table
melons ever introduced. Packet, 5c. Ounce, 10c. Quarter pound, 15c. Half pound, 20c. Pound,:
Improved Florida Favor-
ite.— Tliis excellent variety
is a remarkable heavy yielder
and one of the finest table
melons ever grown. It is two
weeks earlier than Kolb'a
Gem or Gypsy ; of medium
size, covered with light and
dark gi'ccn stripes, alternate-
ly ; flesh deep redt delicious,
sweet, very firm and crisp.
Its earliness and excellent
quality arc bound to make it
popular with those who plant
for their own use and prefer
qualitj- to enormous size.
Packet, 5c. Ounce, 10c. Quar-
ter pound, 15c. Half pound

25c. Pound, 40c. — Representative image for context; not directly related to the specific event in this article. License: Public domain. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

The moves came as oil prices surged, with Brent crude moving above 100 dollars per barrel after Iran reaffirmed a willingness to block the Hormuz Strait in the Persian Gulf and adopt a tougher stance toward the United States. The escalation of Middle East tensions has elevated crude costs and contributed to broader risk-off dynamics in markets.

The U.S. Dollar Index rose above 100 for the first time in about four months, signaling a broad strengthening of the greenback as investors sought safety amid geopolitical uncertainty and higher energy prices.

WE ARE LARGE GROWERS OF
ONION/SETS,
And can make you Special Prices on application.
White Silver Skin and Yellow Danvers
AT LOWEST MARKET PRICES.
Two-bushel bags to bold Onion Sets, 5c. each.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Dibbles, 30c. each ; $3.00 per dozen.
Whale Oil Soap. 10c. a cake. By mail, loc.
Grafting Wax — J pound, 10c. i pound, 15c. Pound packages, 30c. By
mail 8c. per pound additio'nal.
Trowels, 10c.
Weeding Hooks, 5c.
LAWN FERTILIZER.
A Fertilizer Giving Vigor, Strength and Color to Grass and Plants.
The danger arising from the use of barn-yard manure on lawns has caused a demand for a fertilizer con-
taining plant food the same as stable manure, and yet free from obnc»xious seeds. There are irianj advantages
from the use of a fertilizer over barn-yard manure. In the lirst place, in the use of the fertilizer there is no
danger of an importation of seeds, the growth of sorrel, Aveeds, etc. The question is so thoroughly understood
and appreciated by those having beautiful lawns, which they desire to feed and not injure, that further comment
is unnecessary. Package, 10c. 5 pound, 25c. 10 pounds, 45c. 25 pounds, $1.00.
ROOKY FORD OANTALOUPE.
FINE SEED DIRECT FROM
ROCKY FORD, COLORADO.
After a trial of two years in the East. I am convinced that this melon has come
to stay. It is small oblong in shape and size. AVell netted and of green flesh, its
flavor is pecidiar to itself, being diflerent and distinct to any other. What has sur-
prised me is the remarkable sale that has been accorded it in the East, after i)eing on
the cars .several days. I have never known the merits of a cantaloupe to become
known as quickly all over this country as this one.
I would advise that every market gardener give this a trial in a small way. and
see if his land suits it. I feel sure that it has come to sta.-. and will And its place in
every private and market garden. 1 have gotten my seed from one of the most prom-
inent men in RoCky Ford, ColoradO. He says that he has grown seed for several
years for his neighbors, and says that my stock is the finest to be had in that country.

Idc. per Ounce. oOc. per (Quarter Pound. ^1.2o per pound — Representative image for context; not directly related to the specific event in this article. License: Public domain. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Foreign investors liquidated roughly 1.465 trillion won of Korean equities, contributing to a 96.01-point drop on the KOSPI, which fell 1.72 percent on the session. The selling pressure from foreign funds added to the currency and energy-market volatility.

Why this matters for the United States: South Korea is a major global supplier of electronics and semiconductors, and large fluctuations in the won and dollar can influence prices and supply chains for American tech firms that rely on Korean components. A stronger dollar and higher oil costs can feed into US inflation and affect corporate earnings, while volatility in Asian markets can ripple into global risk sentiment and financial conditions.

Geopolitics in the Middle East often has rapid, wide-reaching effects on energy markets and international finance. As Korea’s currency and stock markets react, U.S. investors and policymakers monitor these moves for potential implications for inflation, trade with Asia, and the resilience of global supply chains that include Korean manufacturers.

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