South Korea's gold trading volumes up 300% in first half of year
New ETFs just listed as well.
South Korea's gold trading volumes surged to a record high in the first half of this year amid heightened global economic uncertainty, data showed on Wednesday.
According to data from the Korea Exchange (KRX), gold trading volume reached 37.3 tons in the first half of this year, the highest level since the KRX gold trading market was launched in 2014.
This figure has tripled from 9 tons in the same period last year and has already exceeded the 26.3 tons for the whole of 2024.
The six-month average price of a one-kilogram gold bar rose 36.7% from the same period last year, the data showed.
The Korea Exchange said the increase in trading volumes came as heightened global economic uncertainty fueled demand for safe-haven assets and boosted interest in gold investment.
The exchange also noted that the launch of new gold-backed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other financial instruments in the first half of the year, driving improved investor accessibility, led to the growth.