Investor deposits, considered standby funds for the stock market, have fallen back below the 100 trillion won mark.

On the other hand, the margin transaction loan balance, an indicator of leveraged investing, has swelled back up to the 33 trillion won range.

According to the Korea Financial Investment Association on the 27th, investor deposits stood at 98.9176 trillion won as of the 26th.

This represents a decrease of 3.6164 trillion won from the previous session.

It is the first time in two weeks that deposits have fallen below 100 trillion won since the 12th (99.9764 trillion won).

These funds had increased to 106.5750 trillion won on the 19th before decreasing again.

Investor deposits decrease when retail investors buy stocks or withdraw funds. Although individuals net-sold 2.2468 trillion won worth of shares on the main bourse on the 26th, deposits actually declined.

On the same day, the margin transaction loan balance was tallied at 33.1023 trillion won.

Increasing by 254 billion won from the previous session, it entered the 33 trillion won range for the first time in about a month since July 28 (33.1940 trillion won).

Having fallen to 27.4038 trillion won on the 4th, this balance has been on the rise for seven consecutive trading days starting from the 18th.

Investor deposits represent the "ammunition" of retail investors. A decrease in deposits alongside an increase in margin balances suggests that individuals are reducing their cash reserves while relying on credit transactions to increase investments.

This is interpreted as being driven by growing uncertainty over future gains, as the KOSPI recently fails to settle above the 7,000 mark and moves sideways within a trading range.

Margin purchases, a form of ultra-short-term leveraged trading, increased by 14.69 billion won from the previous session to 1.1491 trillion won.

The scale of forced liquidation resulting from unpaid margin calls stood at 12.7 billion won, accounting for 1.3% of the total overdue amount.

(Photo: Yonhap News)