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Average daily bond turnover hits fresh high in 2015

Jan. 11, 2016 - 09:47 By KH디지털2

The average daily trading volume in the South Korean bond market hit an all-time high in 2015 amid an economic slowdown and prolonged uncertainties, data showed Monday.

The daily turnover of the bond market came to 7.11 trillion won last year, up 26.8 percent from a year earlier, according to the data by the Korea Exchange. 

The figure has been on a steady rise for the past several years, except in 2013, from 2.32 trillion won in 2010 to 3.28 trillion won in 2011 and 5.45 trillion won in 2012, the data showed. In 2013, the daily trading volume was 5.32 trillion won.

The latest surge came as investors flocked to safer assets due to changes in interest rates amid persistent market uncertainties, according to the KRX.

In March and June of last year, the Bank of Korea slashed the base rate by a quarter percentage point each to the current level of 1.50 percent, joining in a global wave of easing aimed at spurring economic growth.

In accordance, bond yields fell to their lowest levels, with the average yield on three-year Treasurys standing at 1.798 percent and five-year government bonds at 1.977 percent. 

While Treasurys accounted for 95.6 percent of the total bonds traded in the market, the benchmark five-year ones took up the largest share of 50.8 percent, followed by three-year Treasurys with 29.8 percent and 10-year ones with 15.2 percent, according to the data.  

"We will strive to further boost investors' convenience by providing more information and making their access to the market easier," KRX official Lee Jung-yie said, vowing the commitment to promoting the market in the global arena. (Yonhap)