'Bull market' sees rise in big retail investors… Which stock was bought the most?

Orders of 100 million won or more surged 52% last month

After the KOSPI surpassed 4000 for the first time ever last month and continued its rally, 'big' retail investors placing orders of 100 million won or more have increased their participation in the stock market.

On the 2nd, according to the Korea Exchange, from the start of last month through the 30th, individual investors' large orders of 100 million won or more on the securities market averaged 28,729 per day, up 52% from September (18,957).

Last month, the daily average number of large orders by individuals reached the highest level in 4 years and 2 months since August 2021 (34,543 orders).

This is interpreted as reflecting improved investor sentiment as the domestic stock market reached the 4000 level for the first time and continued its high-altitude run. Over the past month, the KOSPI jumped 19% on expectations of a Korea-U.S. tariff agreement and a tailwind for U.S. tech stocks.

The stock that attracted the most large orders of 100 million won or more from individuals last month was Samsung Electronics. According to the exchange, from the start of last month through the 30th, the total number of large orders by individuals for Samsung Electronics was 60,243, ranking first.

Samsung Electronics released third-quarter results last month that exceeded market expectations and formalized deliveries to NVIDIA, the U.S. AI bellwether, and with Lee Jae-yong, chairman of Samsung Electronics, deciding to further strengthen cooperation with Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, after a 'chimaek meeting', this appears to have stimulated investor sentiment.

The stock with the second-most orders was SK Hynix with 43,787 orders. This was due to expectations for the memory semiconductor industry as well as the release of record third-quarter results last month. Other stocks with high order volumes included Doosan Enerbility, Naver, Hanwha Ocean, Samsung SDI, Hanmi Semiconductor, and Hyundai Motor.

Securities firms predict that the KOSPI's uptrend will continue next year. In particular, it is expected that the leading position of semiconductor stocks will also be maintained.

Kang Dae-seung, a researcher at SK Securities, said, "While concerns about a recession are limited, accommodative monetary policies by major countries to prevent further economic slowdown will continue, so the liquidity-driven market similar to this year will persist next year," adding, "Dependence on existing leading stocks that generate demand through government policies will deepen. Investment strategies focused on AI infrastructure, such as semiconductors, will remain valid next year."

Cha Eun-ji, Hankyung.com reporter chachacha@hankyung.com