Kia shares placed under watch list due to surge in unsolicited stock tips

[Photo provided by Kia Corp.]

Investors have been advised of discretion when investing in Kia Corp., a large cap on the Kospi, as the stock has become sizzling hot amid rumors of it could go under the value chain for the next Apple autonomous car project.

Stocks of a sudden or rapid change in prices or transaction volume following an unusual surge in stock tips or recommendation messages through mobile messengers are generally placed under the Korea Exchange¡¯s watch list to alert investors to be more wary of potential investment risk.

Usually small-cap stocks are placed under watch list as they often become targets of such unofficial rumors and solicitation messages. But Kia¡¯s case makes an exception as it is the 11th largest on the main Kospi with capitalization of 38 trillion won ($34.44 billion) as of Wednesday.

The stock market operator said that for the past five days, unconfirmed tips and recommendation messages about Kia stock have flooded mobile messengers after Kia shares soared 49.5 percent up to Monday since the beginning of this year.

The latest rally was driven mainly by speculations that the automaker could partner with Apple Inc. for self-driving electric vehicles.

Kia shares rose 0.33 percent to finish 90,000 won on Wednesday in Seoul trading.

[¨Ï Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]