Their turnover also soared between more than six times and 34 times during the cited period.

An ETF invests in a basket of stocks that reflects an index, or commodities and bonds, providing retail investors and institutions with a more liquid and risk-hedging tool. Since its debut in 2002, the local ETF market has lured investors who want relatively safe investment vehicles.

The three ETFs track a price index of 150 major stocks traded on the secondary stock market that has recently been on a roll on earnings momentum.

The benchmark index of the minor bourse has been on track to flirt with the 800-point level though it finished down 1.07 percent at 780.90 on profit-taking.

Separately, a market tracker said the recent KOSDAQ boom has allowed KOSDAQ-linked ETFs to register stellar returns. The average return of KOSDAQ-focused ETFs with a net asset value of 1 billion won or more reached 19.2 percent over the past month, according to KG Zeroin. (Yonhap)