South Korea posted an unadjusted current account surplus of $2.71 billion in February, the Bank of Korea said on Thursday - remaining in the black for the 13th consecutive month.
The headline figure was roughly in line with forecasts following the $2.25 billion surplus in January.
The goods account surplus came in at $2.56 billion, easing from January's $2.60 billion.
The services account deficit narrowed to $0.46 billion from $0.93 billion in the previous month, due to improvements in the Business services, Transport and Travel accounts, despite an increase in payments for the use of intellectual property, the central bank said.
The primary income account surplus narrowed to 0.63 billion dollars from 0.97 billion dollars the previous month, owing chiefly to a decrease in interest income. The secondary income account deficit narrowed to $0.02 billion, from $0.33 billion dollars in January.
The financial account saw a net outflow of $3.31 billion, up from $0.96 billion a month earlier.
Direct investment recorded a net outflow of $0.78 billion, smaller than the $1.42 billion in the previous month as outward investment decreased.
Portfolio investment shifted to a net inflow of $1.99 billion from a net outflow of $4.37 billion a month prior, due to a shift to a net inflow of foreign equity investment and to an increase in foreign debt securities investment, the bank said.
Financial derivatives saw a net inflow of $0.69 billion.
Other investment shifted to a net outflow of $3.22 billion from a net inflow of $4.64 billion in the previous month, owing to the shift to a net repayment of domestic banks' borrowings and to a substantial increase in their deposits overseas, the bank said.
Reserve assets increased by $1.99 billion, while the capital account saw a net inflow of $0.04 billion.
The seasonally adjusted current account surplus was $4.45 billion, up from $6.52 billion in the previous month.
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