South Korean investors have increased their exposure to stocks traded on the Hong Kong stock market this year ahead of a scheduled stock trading link between Hong Kong and mainland China, data showed Monday.

According to the Korea Securities Depositary Corp., local investors bought a net $152 million worth of shares listed on the Hong Kong stock market during the July-September period, slightly surpassing the net purchase of $151 million worth of all other overseas stocks.

Comparative figures for the purchase of Hong Kong shares in the first and second quarters were $23.1 million and $81 million, respectively.

In the first three quarters of the year, local investors’ net purchases of U.S. stocks reached $87 million. In contrast, local investors sold a net $72.7 million worth of Japanese stocks and $1.16 million in Chinese stocks.

Growing demand for Hong Kong stocks came as investors around the globe are expected to directly trade Shanghai “A” stocks through the Hong Kong stock exchange this year. Trading of the stocks is currently available only to a limited number of foreign institutional investors. (Yonhap)