Retail investors and hedge funds were net buyers of equities last week as major U.S. indexes fell, according to new research.

Stocks dropped last week, with the benchmark S&P 500 turning in its worst weekly performance in more than a year . Tech stocks, including several high-profile chip shares, were hit particularly hard .

Still, investors largely bought the dip, according to a report released Tuesday by Bank of America that analyzed the moves of its retail and hedge-fund clients. Clients bought individual stocks, pushing them to their highest inflows in nine weeks, and sold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for a second week.

Broad-Based Buying

The buying was broad-based, with inflows for eight of the S&P 500’s 11 sectors; real estate, industrials, and materials were the exceptions. Tech saw its largest inflows since June.

Stocks are off to a better start this week, with the major indexes rising Monday and making muted moves early Tuesday . Investors this week are largely tuned into the next CPI report , due tomorrow; tonight’s presidential debate ; and next week’s Federal Reserve meeting , which could bring an interest-rate cut.