금융당국은 8일 유엔이 북한 제재를 결의한 것과 관련, 국내 시장동향 점검을 강화하겠다고 밝혔다.

추경호 금융위원회 부위원장은 “과거 북한발 위험이 국내외 금융시장에 미치는 영향은 대체로 제한적이었으나 추가 도발 시 시장변동성이 커질 가능성이 있다”고 말했다.

이날 종합주가지수와 원-달러 환율 등은 보합세를 유지했다. 코스피의 경우, 전 거래일 대비 되레 0.08% 상승한 2006.01에 장을 마감했다.

일부 시장참가자는 지정학적 리스크가 주식 및 외환시장에 선반영된 측면이 있다는 견해를 내놨다.

유엔 안전보장이사회는 지난 7일 미사일이나 핵개발에 쓰일 가능성이 있다고 판단되는 물품의 수출입을 금지하고 북한에 대한 금융서비스 제공을 제한하는 내용의 결의안 2094호를 만장일치로 채택했다. (코리아헤럴드)



<관련 영문기사>

Escalating N.K. threats may sway local stocks

Investors seen to be taking wait-and-see attitude after U.N. sanction against Pyongyang

By Kim Yon-se

Local financial policymakers said that the stock and foreign exchange markets may greatly be swayed by the recent situation involving the intentional community’s disciplinary measures against North Korea.

As the U.N. Security Council decided Thursday to impose additional sanctions on North Korea for its Feb. 12 nuclear test, Korea’s financial regulators and economic policymakers have embarked on closer monitoring of the financial market.

Though provocative actions from the North had minimal impact on the market, there is a possibility that Pyongyang will go through with a tougher military provocation, said Financial Services Commission vice chairman Choo Kyung-ho.

Choo attributed the feasibility to enhanced sanctions from the U.N.

“A provocation could bring critical volatility of the local financial market,” he said.

He added that the FSC, as the nation’s financial regulator, plans to seek effective coordination with the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Korea and the Financial Supervisory Service.

As a step, the Finance Ministry will host a series of meetings to map out contingency plans, starting this Saturday at the Korea Federation of Banks in downtown Seoul.

The U.N. resolution bans all countries from providing public financial support for trade deals, such as granting export credits, guarantees or insurance, if the assistance could contribute to the North’s nuclear or missile programs.

On Friday, indices show that financial investors appear to be taking a wait-and-see stance toward the U.N. resolution.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index inched up 0.08 percent, or 1.61 points, to close at 2,006.01, while the main index sank below the 2,000-mark during the trading session.

Though foreigners and retail investors net sold stocks worth 32.7 billion won ($30.2 million) and 32.9 billion won, respectively, institutional investors net purchased stocks totaling 65.7 billion won on the nation’s main bourse.

The secondary KOSDAQ index also climbed, posting a 0.33 percent increase to close at 543.09.

The Korean currency depreciated by only 3.2 won against the U.S. dollar to close at 1,090.3 won.

Dealers said the risks from North Korea have already been reflected to the foreign exchange market. Many of them predicted that the won-dollar rate will range between 1,080 won and 1,095 won in the coming weeks.

Since the Feb. 12 nuclear test, a government-led task force is pushing forward active communications with global rating agencies in a bid to prevent Korea’s credit status from being downgraded.

The task force is composed of senior officials from the Finance Ministry, the FSC, the FSS and the BOK.

“To block negative effects on the nation’s sovereign rating, we will inform credit rating firms of details on the North’s movements and the South’s countermeasures in a prompt and accurate manner,” the task force has said in a statement.

The ratings firms include the top three players -- Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch.

Public officials said they would also engage in active exchanges of financial information with three countries -- the United States, China and Japan.

(kys@heraldcorp.com)