Foreign investors' stake in Samsung Electronics hits 17-year low
Foreign investors' ownership in Samsung Electronics has fallen to approximately 46%, the lowest level since July 2009. Potential reasons include volatility in the South Korean stock market and a reallocation of AI investments.
The proportion of Samsung Electronics shares held by foreign investors has declined to its lowest point in 17 years, according to recent data from the Korea Exchange. Foreign ownership now stands at around 46%, a level not seen since July 2009. At the start of this year, foreign investors held over 52.4% of the company's stock.
The decrease has been gradual throughout the year. In March, foreign ownership fell below 50%, and by May, it had further decreased to 48%. Despite this sell-off by foreign investors, Samsung Electronics' stock price has repeatedly reached new highs recently, driven by strong performance in its semiconductor division.
The exact reasons behind the sustained selling by overseas investors remain unclear. Market analysts suggest potential factors include significant fluctuations in the South Korean stock market earlier this year, as well as a broader market reallocation of investments towards artificial intelligence (AI) opportunities.