The Korea Herald

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Korea ranks 3rd in foreign net stock buying in Asia

By a2016032

Published : May 29, 2017 - 09:16

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South Korea ranks third in foreign investors' net stock buying among Asian countries, excluding China and Japan, this year, with its stock market performing the best in the region, data showed Monday.

Offshore investors bought a net $5.59 billion worth of South Korean stocks between January and April, the third largest among Asian nations after India's $7.11 billion and Taiwan's $6.69 billion, according to the data from the Korea Exchange. 

(Yonhap) (Yonhap)

China and Japan were excluded from the rankings as their data were not available.

Foreign investors' cumulative net purchases of Asian stocks came to $21.45 billion in the first four months of this year.

Offshore investors were net buyers of Asian shares worth $27.78 billion in 2016 after selling a net $2.79 billion a year earlier.

Foreigners' strong buying has sent benchmark stock indexes in Asia soaring this year.

During the four-month period, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shot up 14.35 percent, becoming the best performer in the region.

India's Mumbai Index came next with a 13.8 percent rise, followed by the Taiwan Stock Exchange Weighted Index with 8.6 percent.

Thailand was the worst performer with its key index rising 1.5 percent as foreign net buying reached a puny $155 million in the four-month period. (Yonhap)