Asian Markets Widen Gap With US: "KOSPI Achieves World's Best Return This Year"

Record-High Returns for MSCI Asia Pacific Index Since 1998 Launch
Korean Stock Market Leads the Surge
In Sharp Contrast to US Market Pressured by AI Fears

On February 27 (local time), Bloomberg News reported that Asian stock markets in February are on track to deliver their best performance since the index was first calculated in 1998. In particular, Korea's KOSPI Index has been leading the global markets since the beginning of the year and is driving the Asian rally.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index has risen about 7% this month, marking the highest return since its inception in 1998. It is expected to outperform the US benchmark S&P 500 Index for the third consecutive month.

Among Asian markets, Korea's performance stood out the most. The KOSPI Index surged approximately 20% this month, recording the highest return. Since the start of the year, the index has soared about 49%, the highest growth rate among major global stock indices.

Tim Waterer, an analyst at KCM Trade, said, "This year, Asian stock markets are drawing attention in contrast to the limited gains of major US indices," adding, "We continue to see global capital flowing into technology stocks in this region."

Indeed, as investors flock to Asian companies supporting AI infrastructure expansion, Asian stock markets have outperformed major indices in the US and Europe. Bloomberg News noted that investors viewed these companies as "picks and shovels" for the supply chain.

This contrasts with the US stock market, which remains stuck in a trading range. On the New York Stock Exchange, concerns about the disruptive innovation of AI technology have shaken share prices across various sectors. There are fears that the industry ecosystems of many companies, ranging from software to freight, transportation, and real estate firms, could collapse, weighing on stock prices. Some private equity firms have also been exposed to related risks because they lent money to or invested in these companies.

Bloomberg News also reported that Citigroup, after reviewing forecasts disclosed by the world's largest asset managers, confirmed that these funds have increased their buying positions across markets in Asia, Latin America, and the broader Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.