Investment funds' net asset value jumps 21 pct in 2019: data

By Chung Joo-won

SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Yonhap) -- The value of investment funds in South Korea increased 21 percent last year as investors parked more money in safer financial vehicles amid increased economic uncertainties and a mini rally in the local stock market that boosted overall value, data showed Monday.

The net asset value (NAV) of stocks, bonds and real estate-related funds reached a combined 658.8 trillion won (US$570.3 billion) at the end of 2019, compared with the previous year's 544.3 trillion won, according to data from the Korea Financial Investment Association (KOFIA).

The net asset value is the amount of funds received from contractors and the revenue recorded during the cited period.

The rise in NAV was driven by cash inflows into bond funds and money market funds (MMFs) and a rally in the local stock market.

The net asset value of funds that invest in bonds increased 15.9 trillion won, or 15.4 percent, on-year to 119 trillion won, and that of stock funds increased 8.9 trillion won, or 11.2 percent, to 88.8 trillion won in 2019, as a rally late last year boosted overall value, despite a net cash outflow of 6.6 trillion won.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) advanced 7.67 percent last year to close at 2,197.67 in the final trading session, buoyed by rising optimism for the Sino-American trade negotiations and a much-coveted economic recovery.

The net asset value of MMFs rose 15.3 trillion won, or 17 percent, to 105.6 trillion won in 2019, according to the KOFIA.

Real estate funds saw their NAV rise 45.9 trillion won, or 31.2 percent, to 193.3 trillion won over the cited period on the back of a cash inflow of 45.6 trillion won, the data showed.

jwc@yna.co.kr
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