Net capital outflow by retail investors amounted to 22.42 trillion rials ($72.3 million) in five trading sessions in the preceding Iranian week that ends on Wednesday.
This was almost a three-fold increase from the week before, raising fresh concern about the liquidity crunch in the share market due to the pattern of retail traders wanting to exit.
Retail trade dropped 6% from the week before, down from the average 44.38 trillion rials ($143 million) a day last week to 41.54 trillion rials ($134m).
Investors dumped chemical, base metal, refinery and bank stocks, according to the Eqtesad News website.
Given the mounting economic uncertainty, retail investors have shown added aversion to trade in recent weeks with institutional investors trying to lift the sagging market.
The pattern of decline in retail trade is seen as a bad omen for the bourse and observers say if the share market is to susrvive retail investors must be up front.
Major market indicators fell last week in tandem with the ongoing capital outflow. The main index of Tehran Stock Exchange, TEDPIX, dropped 30,941 points or 2% to reach 1,533,393. The TSE equal-weighted index dropped 1.55%.
