iShares MSCI South Korea ETF vs iShares MSCI South Africa ETF — how do they compare? iShares MSCI South Korea ETF trades at $177.07 (market cap $26.25B), while iShares MSCI South Africa ETF trades at $63.72 (market cap $455.34M). The key difference: iShares MSCI South Korea ETF is far larger — about 57.6× iShares MSCI South Africa ETF's market cap, and iShares MSCI South Korea ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, iShares MSCI South Africa ETF nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold iShares MSCI South Korea ETF for 46 Days and iShares MSCI South Africa ETF for 70 Days on average.
| EWY | EZA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $26.25B | $455.34M |
Volume | 19,056,075 | 148,692 |
Sector | Broad Market / Factor | Broad Market / Factor |
52-Week High | $219.20 | $81.60 |
52-Week Low | $80.72 | $60.43 |
Typical Hold Time | 46 Days | 70 Days |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
EWY (iShares MSCI South Korea ETF) is trading at $176.77, down 3.78% amid broader Asian market pressures. The ETF shows a bearish technical signal with moving averages indicating selling pressure, though oversold RSI levels suggest potential near-term support. Recent volatility reflects sensitivity to semiconductor cycles, with heavy concentration in Samsung and SK hynix driving performance. South Korea's KOSPI has struggled to maintain gains above 7,000 despite AI-driven optimism, facing headwinds from rising oil prices and global bond yields.
The outlook remains tied to semiconductor demand and AI infrastructure spending, with corporate earnings showing resilience. Key risks include concentration in two holdings, memory cycle dependency, and macroeconomic pressures. Governance reforms and visible deleveraging provide fundamental support, but the ETF's high sensitivity to tech sector volatility warrants caution for risk-averse investors.
EZA trades at $62.29, down 2.15% today, with a bearish technical signal driven by moving averages. The ETF's portfolio faces headwinds from global reflation impacting its heavy exposure to South African gold, banking, and platinum group metals. Key oscillators like the 6-day and 12-day relative strength index indicate oversold conditions, suggesting potential for a near-term bounce, but the average directional index signals a strong downtrend.
The outlook is cautious due to macroeconomic pressures on constituent companies, with risks from higher capital costs and commodity price volatility. Investment opportunity hinges on a reversal in global yield curves and commodity markets, but current sentiment remains negative amid sell-side dominance and lack of positive fundamental catalysts.
Trailing returns across standard periods
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
EWY tracks the MSCI Korea 25/50 Index, offering targeted exposure to large and mid-cap companies in South Korea. It is structurally centered on the global technology supply chain, industrials, and financial services, serving as a liquid tool for investors seeking a single-country view of this advanced, innovation-led economy.
Read more on EWY →EZA is a country-specific ETF that tracks the South African equity market. It provides exposure to large and mid-cap companies across key sectors like materials and financials, with top holdings such as AngloGold Ashanti and Naspers.
Read more on EZA →