The Business Times
business-time-50

An epic David-and-Goliath stock battle is under way

Retail traders are pouring into individual counters as professionals diversify

Summarise
google-preferred-sourceAdd BT as a preferred source
Published Wed, Jul 1, 2026 · 07:00 AM
    • The effect retail investors are having on markets is particularly evident in South Korea; the Kospi is among the best-performing stock markets this year.
    • The effect retail investors are having on markets is particularly evident in South Korea; the Kospi is among the best-performing stock markets this year. PHOTO: EPA

    MEME mania swept through Wall Street in 2021. Retail investors gathered on social media and coordinated trading strategies to short squeeze high-profile hedge funds.

    Their success was more than financial; it was hailed as a David versus Goliath battle, a victory for the underdogs that toppled the almighty.

    That was just a skirmish. The conflict between retail and professional investors today has extended well beyond “degen” traders active on Reddit and a few hard-charging hedge funds.

    Stock MarketsStocksStock tradingTech stocksArtificial Intelligence

    TRENDING NOW

    Employees may grumble about long hours, difficult clients or demanding deadlines, but often the biggest push factor is how they are treated.

    What makes a good job? Feeling that you matter

    Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim resigned from political office on Jul 20.

    Faishal Ibrahim resigns over online messages with a female member of the public

    Alibaba’s Qwen alone has overtaken Meta’s Llama to become the most downloaded open-source model family in history.

    When the disruptor gets disrupted: How Chinese open-source AI is eating its own industry

    CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust is spending S$160 million to revamp Plaza Singapura and The Atrium@Orchard.

    Retail resets: Mall owners reposition shopping centres as Singapore’s consumer landscape evolves

    Latest T-bills Treasury Bills Results & Interest NewsLatest SSB Singapore Savings Bonds NewsLatest COE Certificate of Entitlement News
    Latest Johor-Singapore SEZ NewsLatest BTO Build To Order & Sales of Balance NewsLatest STI Straits Times Index NewsLatest SGX Dividends, Share Price NewsLatest Bonds Market NewsLatest Singapore Stocks To Buy NewsLatest Singapore Economy News
    View More