Net financial funds held by non-financial corporations rose to 67.1 trillion won in the second quarter as semiconductor exports lifted earnings, Yonhap reported, citing Bank of Korea data.
Net financial funds held by South Korean non-financial corporations reached 67.1 trillion won (US$50.1 billion) at the end of June, up sharply from 20.8 trillion won three months earlier. Yonhap reported that it was the highest quarterly figure since the Bank of Korea began compiling the data in 2009.
Net financial funds measure financial assets minus financial liabilities. The increase among companies came as strong semiconductor exports boosted corporate earnings, according to the report.
Households’ net financial funds moved in the opposite direction, falling to 60.7 trillion won in the second quarter from 79.2 trillion won in the first. Yonhap cited lower incomes and increased home purchases as contributing factors.
Financial assets held by households and nonprofit organizations totaled 6,930.2 trillion won at the end of June, an increase of 513 trillion won from three months earlier. Their liabilities rose by 28.2 trillion won over the same period to 2,495.8 trillion won.
The ratio of household financial assets to liabilities was 2.78. Household debt stood at 81.1 percent of gross domestic product at the end of June, down from 85.3 percent three months earlier, the report said, citing the Bank of Korea.