SEOUL, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Foreign investors sold South Korean stocks for two straight months to May, while buying local bonds for the fifth consecutive month, financial watchdog data showed Monday.
Foreigners sold a net 380 billion won (344 million U.S. dollars) worth of local listed stocks in May, remaining as net sellers in the local stock market for two months in a row, according to the Financial Supervisory Service.
British, Swiss and Saudi investors were net sellers, while U.S. investors bought domestic stocks.
Foreign holdings of local stocks totaled 623.9 trillion won (564.6 billion U.S. dollars) as of end-May, accounting for 31.9 percent of the total market capitalization.
Offshore investors made a net investment in the domestic bond market for the fifth consecutive month. Net bond investment by foreigners in May amounted to 3.27 trillion won (2.96 billion U.S. dollars).
European, Asian and Middle East investors were buyers in the market. The net investment indicates net bond buying minus matured debts.
Foreign ownership of local bonds amounted to 108.4 trillion won (98 billion U.S. dollars) as of end-May, taking up 6.3 percent of the total listed bonds.
