Sales of bonds and certificates of deposit (CDs) in South Korea increase in the third quarter, according to data compiled by the Korea Securities Depository. Total issuance reaches 178.3 trillion won (about $134 billion), up 11.1% from a year earlier.
Breaking the figures down, bond issuance grows faster than overall activity, rising 13.8% year-on-year to 166.4 trillion won. CD issuance, however, falls 16.8% to 11.9 trillion won over the same period. Compared with the previous quarter, combined bond and CD sales decrease by 1.9%, indicating weaker momentum despite the annual increase.
Both outlets link the rise in issuance to the broader interest-rate environment. The Bank of Korea lifts its policy rate to 3% after two consecutive meetings in July and August, the first back-to-back rate hikes since January 2023. The higher-rate setting is presented as part of the context for issuance trends in Q3.
