Fund managers predict Kospi up 16.7% this year

South Korea's stock market is tipped to be the top performer in a region trending upward, says Mercer Investment Consulting, which is releasing its annual 'fearless forecast' survey. Polling 31 Asian-based investment managers representing $6.3 trillion of assets, the consultant finds they expect stock indices to close higher in 2004 than their level in October, 2003 when surveying commenced.