FSCトップ、レバレッジETF主導の変動を遺憾視し、追加措置を表明
重要ポイント
- •李億元委員長は市場混乱について公に謝罪し、同庁が変動に対する責任を負うと述べた。
- •単一銘柄レバレッジETFをめぐり、FSC委員長が公の場で謝罪するのは今回が初めてだった。
- •ソウル株式市場は水曜日に約6％下落し、前日の約11％安に続いて半導体株が下げを主導した。
- •FSCは単一銘柄レバレッジETF投資の最低現金預託金を金曜日から引き上げる。
- •李委員長は、市場環境に応じて総量規制や預託金のさらなる引き上げを含む追加措置を検討すると述べた。
The chief financial regulator on Wednesday expressed regret over recent extreme market volatility, saying the authorities take responsibility for the turmoil amid criticism that single-stock leveraged ETFs had amplified the market swings.
"I regret failing to fully meet the public's expectations," Lee Eog-weon, chairman of the Financial Services Commission, said during a session at the National Assembly. "I take the sharp rise in market volatility very seriously."
It marked the first time the FSC chairman apologized in public over the controversy surrounding single-stock leveraged ETFs.
"As the agency is ultimately responsible for the financial market, we recognize our heavy responsibility," Lee said. "We plan to promptly implement supplementary measures and introduce additional steps if necessary."
The remarks come as policymakers face pressure to show that recent safeguards are sufficient to curb excess trading without disrupting broader market activity, especially after sharp moves in heavyweight technology shares helped drive the selloff. Seoul shares plunged by nearly 6 percent Wednesday following a nearly 11 percent crash the previous session, as investors dumped semiconductor stocks amid growing skepticism over whether massive spending on artificial intelligence will generate sufficient returns.
In a report to parliament, Lee said the commission will consider additional measures to dampen demand for recently introduced single-stock ETFs.
Earlier, the FSC unveiled a set of measures, including a hike in the minimum cash deposit for single-stock leveraged ETF investment, effective Friday.
The government brought forward the implementation of the deposit requirement by several weeks to help stabilize the market and protect investors amid heightened market volatility.
"The measures will be swiftly implemented to stabilize the market, and additional measures will be reviewed depending on the market situation," Lee stressed.
As one possible option, Lee has proposed a total volume management measure that would cap investment in such ETFs at 20 percent or less of an individual's total financial investment portfolio.
Lee said his agency will also examine other possible steps, including a further hike in the minimum deposit for leveraged ETF investment, adding that adjusting single-stock leveraged ETF regulations is one way to stabilize market volatility. (Yonhap)