Foreigners pour billions into Taiwan, South Korea stocks on AI, growth optimism

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 AI prospects as trade worries fluctuate.
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, opens new tab rose 2% last month, its fifth consecutive month in green, while benchmarks in Taipei, opens new tab and Seoul, opens new tab advanced roughly 6% each.
Taiwan and South Korea were the top destinations in the region for foreign capital, securing a cumulative $25.7 billion over the past three months as the two dominant Asian tech exporters benefit from a global surge in AI-related investments.
Source: Reuters