S. Korean investment in overseas securities jumps in H1

SEOUL, July 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's direct investment in foreign securities
spiked 142 percent in the first half of this year from a year earlier due mainly
to increased European bond purchases, the country's securities depository agency
said Tuesday.
Local corporate and retail investors bought US$5.6 billion worth of overseas
stocks and bonds in the January-June period, compared with $2.3 billion a year
earlier, according to the Korea Securities Depository (KSD).
"The investment growth came as investors increased their holdings in European and
U.S. bonds in pursuit of stable returns," a KSD official said.
Europe as an economic bloc was the largest investment destination, with local
investors scooping up $4.3 billion worth of securities in the first half, up 466
percent from a year, followed by the U.S. with $838 million.
As of the end of June, South Korean investors' holdings of overseas securities
were worth $11.4 billion, up 7 percent from a year earlier, it said.
pbr@yna.co.kr
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