The turnover in the Korean stock market hit a two-year high in October amid increased market volatility and a relatively bearish run on the local stock market, data showed Wednesday.

The average turnover on the main bourse amounted to 4.46 trillion won ($4.15 billion) last month, the highest since September 2012, when the comparable figure was 5.22 trillion won, according to the data compiled by the Korea Exchange, the bourse’s operator.

When the corresponding figure on the secondary KOSDAQ market is included, the daily turnover topped 6 trillion won last month, the data showed.

Trading on the local stock market has been declining due to retail investors’ waning presence and a slump in the market this year. Since July, however, it has gotten a boost from a series of market-friendly policies initiated by Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan.

The government’s aggressive stimulus measures prodded investors to seek higher returns from stocks. (Yonhap)