Foreign funds pour into Taiwan, S Korea

Foreign investors flocked to Asian stocks for the third straight month in July, with inflows into Taiwan hitting a near two-decade high and Thailand snapping its nine-month losing streak, buoyed by growth and Al prospects as trade worries fluctuate.

- SAMEER MANEKAR GAURAV DOGRA

Foreign inflows into most Asian equity markets have stabilised over the past three months as countries clinched better trade arrangements with the United States, calming tariff-related volatility and uncertainty in financial markets.

Overseas investors showed strong interest in Taiwan and South Korea for the third straight month in July, pouring $7.78 billion in Taiwan, the highest since the 2008 global financial crisis, and $4.52 billion in South Korea, the most since February last year, LSEG data showed.

The MSCI gauge of equities in Asia excluding Japan rose 2% last month, its fifth consecutive month in green, while benchmarks in Taipei and Seoul advanced roughly 6% each.