Nhà đầu tư bán lẻ Hàn Quốc tăng vị thế CFD đòn bẩy cao lên 33 nghìn tỷ won

The Huoxing Finance report states that on July 22, South Korean retail investors are once again heavily buying high-leverage CFDs. According to data from the Korea Financial Investment Association, as of July 21, the total open interest in South Korean CFDs had increased to approximately KRW 3.3 trillion (about USD 2.2 billion), a nearly two-thirds rise compared to a year ago. The data shows that SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics have become the most concentrated targets for retail leverage bets. Over the past year, CFD open interest in SK Hynix surged nearly 2,500% to KRW 235 billion, while CFD open interest in Samsung Electronics expanded to approximately KRW 217 billion—five times its previous level. CFDs allow investors to gain full exposure to the underlying asset by posting only about 40% margin, without actually holding the stocks. Analysts note that when market declines trigger margin calls, banks hedging their risks may simultaneously sell the underlying spot stocks, amplifying market volatility. Market participants are concerned that the risks from CFDs, when combined with other leveraged products such as margin trading and leveraged ETFs, could create a chain reaction of forced liquidations during market corrections. The Korea Capital Market Institute warned that if a large number of leveraged positions are concentrated in the same direction and investors cannot meet margin requirements, forced liquidations could further intensify market volatility. In 2023, South Korea experienced a wave of forced liquidations from concentrated retail CFD positions, causing multiple stocks to hit daily price limits and prompting regulatory crackdowns. Analysts believe that as South Korean retail investors once again increase their high-leverage trading, similar risks are once again drawing market attention.