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South Korea to Cap Individual Investments in Single-Stock Leveraged ETFs at 20%
South Korean financial authorities will impose a 20% cap on individual investments in single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs), a significant move to curb speculative trading that has been blamed for exacerbating market volatility. The new rules were announced Wednesday following an emergency meeting of financial regulators.
New Regulatory Measures
According to a statement from the finance ministry, the primary measure will limit an individual’s total investment in such products to 20% of their total investment assets. The government also plans to increase the cost of related trading to discourage excessive activity, potentially by applying charges similar to those used in the futures market for excessive order submissions.
Authorities will also introduce new safeguards for investors, including:
- Mandatory simulated trading requirements in addition to existing investor education.
- The development of a legal basis allowing regulators to implement market stabilization measures in emergencies, citing Hong Kong’s flexible leverage framework as a model.
Rationale for the Clampdown
AdThe restrictions are a direct response to recent sharp swings in the South Korean stock market. Regulators said the volatility was “worsened by concentrated bets in single-stock leveraged products.” These instruments, which use derivatives to amplify the daily returns of an underlying stock, can magnify both gains and losses, posing risks to investors and broader market stability.
Broader Market Safeguards
Wednesday's announcement is the latest in a series of actions targeting these complex financial products. The government has already halted new listings of single-stock leveraged ETFs and banned their advertisement.
Furthermore, a previously announced measure raising the minimum cash deposit requirement for investors to 20,646 won is scheduled to take effect on July 31. The finance ministry stated that all the newly announced measures will be pursued immediately.
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