韩国散户热情高涨 Kospi指数成亚洲股市“最靓的仔”

Group 1 - The core sentiment among retail investors in South Korea is optimistic, driven by expectations of corporate governance reforms and favorable market policies from the new government, leading to increased leverage in stock market investments [1][3] - As of June 23, the margin loan balance reached 20.1 trillion KRW (approximately 14.7 billion USD), marking the highest level in nearly a year, while investor deposits hit 65 trillion KRW, the highest since mid-2022 [1] - The Kospi index has risen by 29% this year, reflecting a shift away from the historical "Korea discount" and indicating a strong recovery in the stock market [1][3] Group 2 - Retail investor activity has surged, with the proportion of retail trading increasing from 39% on June 9 to 48% on June 19, indicating a growing engagement in the local market [3] - The MSCI Korea index is trading at approximately book value, compared to 1.9 times book value for broader emerging market indices, suggesting potential for further market growth [3] - The new government under President Yoon Suk-yeol is expediting amendments to commercial laws to enhance shareholder rights, which is expected to further boost market confidence [3][6] Group 3 - Despite the positive sentiment, MSCI has denied South Korea's status as a developed market due to limited foreign exchange reforms and investment tool availability, which poses challenges to the government's market-friendly initiatives [4] - The surge in margin trading highlights bullish sentiment but also raises systemic risks in a market increasingly dominated by retail investors, potentially leading to forced liquidations [4] - The sustainability of the stock market rally will depend on the government's ability to implement reforms and whether corporate earnings can keep pace with market expectations [4]