[South Korea's 30-Year Treasury Yield Rises to 4.67%, Hits Highest Level Since 2012]
According to Jin10, South Korea's 30-year treasury yield briefly rose to 4.67% on Wednesday, marking the highest level since the bond's introduction in 2012. The increase was driven by high energy prices and weak demand from life insurance companies. The Middle East situation has pushed oil prices higher, significantly impacting South Korea, an energy-import-dependent economy. A senior official from the Bank of Korea recently stated that the semiconductor industry is driving economic growth and raising potential inflation, necessitating interest rate hikes by the central bank, which has dampened demand for ultra-long-term treasuries. Additionally, South Korean life insurance companies have reduced their purchases of ultra-long-term bonds due to regulatory adjustments that have lessened the urgency to extend asset durations.
