Bank of Korea warns leveraged ETFs tied to Samsung and SK Hynix may unsettle markets

The central bank said products linked to the two heavyweight stocks could deepen market concentration, amplify volatility and reinforce one-way trading flows, prompting closer monitoring of market and financial-stability risks.

Summary

Bank of Korea said leveraged ETFs tied to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix could deepen market concentration, amplify volatility and reinforce one-way trading flows, underscoring concerns that these products may affect both market functioning and financial stability. In a written reply to People Power Party lawmaker Park Sung-hoon, the central bank said the two stocks account for more than half of South Korea’s market capitalization and trading value, a concentration that can magnify the impact of leveraged products linked to them. The bank said it plans to strengthen monitoring of such products’ effects on markets and the financial system.

Terms & Concepts
  • leveraged ETFs: Exchange-traded funds designed to amplify the daily return of an underlying asset or index, often using derivatives or borrowed exposure.
  • one-way trading flows: Market activity that is heavily skewed toward buying or selling in one direction, which can intensify price moves.
  • market concentration: A condition in which a small number of stocks or firms make up a large share of market value or trading activity.