South Korea housing prices rise for 20th month in April

[SEOUL] South Korea's leading housing price indicator extended its run of gains to a 20th consecutive month in April, with annual growth hitting the fastest in nearly three years, a top lender's figures showed on Thursday.

The housing purchase price composite index from Kookmin Bank, South Korea's leading mortgage lender, rose 0.49 per cent in April from March, marking the fastest gain since a 0.55 per cent increase in September 2011.

The index gained 2.62 per cent from a year earlier, the fastest annual growth since a 3.04 per cent gain in June 2012, the data showed.

REUTERS