"Hoping for a Big Rebound"... Leveraged Bets Surge in Semiconductors, Refining and Renewables

Input: 2026-03-12 18:33:03

Updated: 2026-03-12 18:33:03

Despite heightened stock market volatility triggered by the war in the Middle East, leveraged investing using borrowed money has intensified in semiconductor, refining and renewable energy stocks.

This contrasts with the decline in overall margin trading balances on the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI). 3065 trillion won at the end of last month. This was the largest increase in margin balance among all main-board stocks over the same period.

A margin trading balance refers to the outstanding amount that investors have borrowed from securities firms to buy stocks and have not yet repaid. An increase in this balance indicates that more investors are using borrowed funds to invest. 1%).

This trend contrasts with the decline in the overall margin balance on the KOSPI market. 6689 trillion won at the end of last month. Oil price surge fuels more leveraged trades Market watchers say that as price volatility in semiconductor stocks widened due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, many investors rushed in to buy on the dip.

4%. Brokerage houses have also continued to rate the semiconductor industry positively despite the war in the Middle East, which appears to have drawn in more leveraged investors. Noh Geun-chang, head of research at Hyundai Motor Securities, said, "The recent war involving the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran) has raised some concerns about a slowdown in artificial intelligence (AI) data center investment in the Middle East and about the supply chain for specialty gases, but the region accounts for only a small share of global demand, and materials supply chains have already been sufficiently diversified, so the negative impact will be minimal.

" He added, "The weaker won caused by rising external uncertainty could also have a positive effect on earnings. " Hanwha Solutions and S-Oil also attract large inflows As the war in the Middle East drove a sharp jump in oil prices, leveraged bets also poured into sectors expected to benefit. 3 billion won so far this month, ranking third among all stocks in terms of margin balance growth.

The spike in international oil prices driven by geopolitical risks in the Middle East appears to have fueled buying on expectations that renewable energy will gain a relative competitive edge. According to Investing. 66 dollars per barrel as of 3:30 p.

m. 2% from the previous session. 48 dollars during intraday trading.

As Iran has attacked commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and instability in the Middle East and strong oil prices show signs of persisting, leveraged investing has also increased in domestic refining stocks. 4 billion won so far this month.

Brokerages are also raising their target prices for refining stocks. Samsung Securities lifted its target price for S-Oil from 125,000 won to 140,000 won.

Hyunryul Cho, an analyst at Samsung Securities, explained, "In the short term, we expect further increases in oil prices and refining margins, so we have raised our forecast for this year's return on equity (ROE) from 9% to 12%. " He added, "If the war in the Middle East continues, the fact that refining facilities focused on diesel and kerosene products are located in Asia, away from the conflict zone, will serve as an opportunity from a geopolitical perspective.

nodelay@fnnews.com Reporter Park Ji-yeon Reporter

· This article has been translated by GripLabs Mingo AI.

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