South Korea's stock market sees highest sidecar triggers since 2008

The total number of buy- and sell-side sidecars triggered on the main bourse this year has reached its highest level since the 2008 global financial crisis, reflecting growing market volatility, the bourse operator said Wednesday.

A total of 20 sidecars have been issued on the main bourse so far this year, six fewer than the 26 recorded in all of 2008, when the global financial crisis jolted the market, according to the Korea Exchange (KRX).

A sidecar is triggered when the KOSPI 200 Futures Index moves 5 percent or more for at least one minute, suspending program trading for five minutes.

The KRX has issued 11 buy-side sidecars and nine sell-side sidecars.

It also marked the first time the KRX has triggered sidecars for six straight months since it began compiling related data in 2002.

Experts said that considering the first half has yet to end, this year's figure may set a new annual high, surpassing the level recorded during the financial crisis.

The South Korean stock market has experienced increased volatility due to sharp gains in Samsung Electronics and SK hynix on the global artificial intelligence (AI) boom, while the war in the Middle East has added uncertainty.

The KRX, meanwhile, issued two circuit breakers in March, which suspended trading for 20 minutes when the index stays 8 percent below the previous session's level for one minute.

It also marked the first time the KRX has triggered two circuit breakers in a single month since March 2020, when the market faced extreme volatility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.