With the artificial intelligence (AI) market rapidly reshaping the core of global industry, Korea Investment Management recently launched the ACE U.S. AI Tech Core Industries Active exchange-traded fund (ETF).
On the 4th, according to the Korea Exchange (KRX), the ACE U.S. AI Tech Core Industries Active ETF posted 28 billion won in net purchases by individuals on the day of creation, and surpassed a cumulative 76 billion won in individual net purchases within five days of listing.
An official at Korea Investment Management said, "The evolution of AI technology is not a simple trend but a structural renewal across industries, and it has already permeated deeply into everyday life," adding, "Investment in the AI industry is no longer a matter of 'whether to do it,' but a question of 'what to include and how.'"
The ACE U.S. AI Tech Core Industries Active ETF is an active product that captures the paradigm shift driven by AI technology and swiftly adjusts allocations to the four core industries—computing infrastructure, energy infrastructure, and AI hardware and software.
Because the AI industry has an ecosystem in which the leading sector changes at each stage of development, this product has the strength of covering the entire AI value chain and reflecting market trends.
Since the ACE ETF rebranding, Korea Investment Management has strengthened a lineup centered on U.S. technology and growth stocks. Among them, a flagship product is the ACE U.S. Big Tech TOP7 Plus ETF.
This ETF focuses on seven large technology corporations in the U.S. market, including Google, Apple, Nvidia, and Microsoft, and captures key growth pillars led by big tech, such as AI, cloud, data centers, and platform businesses.
Since its listing in Sep. 2023, the ETF has seen steady fund inflows, with year-to-date individual net purchases tallied at 124 billion won. Individual net buying has continued for 16 straight days, and it has maintained stable performance with a 6-month return of 45.28%, a 1-year return of 45.55%, and a 129.61% return since listing.
The ACE Global Semiconductor TOP4 Plus ETF, introduced for the first time after the ACE ETF rebranding, is a flagship technology stock ETF that concentrates on the four key pillars of the global semiconductor market: memory, non-memory, foundry, and semiconductor equipment.
Semiconductors are a core infrastructure industry closely connected to AI, data centers, and the automotive electronics sector, and a multiplier effect can be expected as the AI industry grows. The ETF recently recorded net worth of 632.7 billion won, with a 6-month return of 103.77%, a 1-year return of 89.95%, and a 377.34% return since listing, and it surpassed 40,000 won per share.
Nam Yong-su, head of ETF management at Korea Investment Management, said, "The AI, big tech, and semiconductor industries are not short-term fad sectors but megatrends that fundamentally change industrial structures," adding, "From AI infrastructure to the application stage, broad-based benefits are expected, and the faster the change accelerates, the greater the impact will be."
He added, "ACE ETFs segment investment areas around core market pillars and will continue to present strategic options tailored to investor demand," noting, "If you want to stand at the center of AI innovation, now is the optimal time to invest."
Meanwhile, the funds mentioned in the article are performance-based products; past returns do not guarantee future performance, and principal loss may occur depending on management results.