FPIs net buyers for 2nd consecutive month in Feb; invest Rs 23,663 cr

EW DELHI: Remaining net buyers for second consecutive month in this calendar year, overseas investors pumped in Rs 23,663 crore in Indian markets in February on account of positive sentiment due to the Union Budget 2021-22 and strong third quarter earnings.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPI) invested a net Rs 25,787 crore into equities but pulled out Rs 2,124 crore from the bonds market during February 1-26, the depositories data showed.

This took the total net investment to Rs 23,663 crore during the period under review.

Last month, the total net investment stood at Rs 14,649 crore.
Rusmik Oza, executive vice-president and head (fundamental research) at Kotak Securities, said, "Most of the FPI flows this month can be attributed to the strong outcome of the Union Budget and third quarter earnings season."

Besides, Geojit Financial Chief Investment Strategist V K Vijayakumar noted that the pace of FPI inflows has slowed since the US 10-year yield is spiking up.

The US 10-year bond yield is a hugely important determinant of capital flows. Inflation expectations are pushing the yields up. This will slow capital inflows, he added.

Oza said the yield, which started the calendar year at 0.91 per cent, has now risen to 1.47 per cent. "It has led to bond yields rising across the globe."

Also, USD 1.9-trillion stimulus coming from US government could lead to sharper recovery in the US GDP in this calender year.

"Markets are forward looking and trying to build in the scope of further rise in bond yields going forward in spite of the pick-up in vaccination," Oza said.

According to Oza, emerging market currencies need to be watched going forward.

Countries that see higher impact on their currencies could see higher FPI outflows,he added.

Morningstar India Associate Director (Manager Research) Himanshu Srivastava said the focus will be on economic numbers and how soon India gain economic momentum back, moving forward.

There are signs of improvement in the macroeconomic environment and earnings growth, and foreign investors would prefer this trend to continue.

"However, as markets continue to be at elevated levels and given high valuations, the possibility of profit-booking remains, which could slow down the pace of net flows," he said.

Besides, with the US Federal Reserve reaffirming its accommodative stance, the global liquidity backdrop remains positive, which could enable flows into emerging markets like India, Srivastava said.