CITIC Securities says retail leverage in South Korean equities has been rapidly unwound but risks remain. Brokerage margin balances fell 10% in a single day on July 31 — the largest drop this year — indicating on-exchange leverage is still being cut quickly. Retail forced liquidations on July 30–31 exceeded 100 bln won per day; the liquidation rate remains about 7–8%, well above the roughly 1% level seen in stable markets. Korea’s stabilization fund is limited in size and National Pension Servic

CITIC Securities says retail leverage in South Korean equities has been rapidly unwound but risks remain. Brokerage margin balances fell 10% in a single day on July 31 — the largest drop this year — indicating on-exchange leverage is still being cut quickly. Retail forced liquidations on July 30–31 exceeded 100 bln won per day; the liquidation rate remains about 7–8%, well above the roughly 1% level seen in stable markets. Korea’s stabilization fund is limited in size and National Pension Service intervention carries moral hazard. CITIC expects market volatility to remain relatively elevated.