SEOUL, KOREA - The ratio of shares held by foreigners in Korea's stock market has increased slightly this year. According to the Korea Exchange on November 18, the percent rose 0.88 percentage point to 35.64 percent from 34.76 percent as of the end of 2012.

 

For a little more than ten months this year until November 13, foreign investors have net-bought 4,663 billion won in the KOSPI market.

 

By industrial sector, the foreign share was highest in the electric and electronic segment with 46.79 percent, followed by telecommunications (44.13%), transportation and equipment (37.70%), and steel and metal (35.15%).

 

Since early this year, foreign investors have increased their holdings in the machinery sector by 8.50 percentage points. They also boosted their stockholdings in construction and services by 2.42 and 1.70 percentage points respectively. Meanwhile, sectors such as non-metallic minerals, food and beverage, medical and healthcare, and utilities saw their foreign holdings decline by 3.02, 1.45, 0.51, and 0.43 percentage point, respectively.

 

The share with the highest foreign holdings was Halla Visteon Climate Control with 88.93 percent, followed by Hanglas (80.60%), Ssangyong Motor (76.54%), DGB Financial Group (74.50%), Hankook Shell Oil (70.42%), Saeron Automotive (66.68%), and Kishin Co. (66.51%).