FPIs invest ₹11,557 crore in equities in December

Foreign investors have infused a net Rs 11,557 crore in Indian equities in December so far despite a market correction and increasing concerns over re-emergence of COVID in China and some other parts of the world. Going ahead, macro data from the US and COVID news will drive FPI flows and the markets in the near term, said V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services. According to data with the depositories, Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) invested a net sum of Rs 11,557 crore in equities during December 1-23. This comes following a net investment of over Rs 36,200 crore in November primarily due to weakening of the US dollar index and positivity about overall macroeconomic trends. Prior to this, foreign investors pulled out Rs 8 crore in October and Rs 7,624 crore in September, data with the depositories showed. ”Despite correction in the markets, increasing concerns over re-emergence of COVID in some parts of the world and recession worries in the US, FPIs remained net buyers in the Indian equity markets (in December),” said Himanshu Srivastava, Associate Director – Manager Research, Morningstar India. However, the quantum of net inflow was much lower at a little over Rs 1,000 crore in the week ended December 23, compared to Rs 6,055 crore recorded in the previous week. The fall in net inflow does indicate that foreign investors are gradually turning cautious given the recent developments and ongoing uncertainties, he noted. ”Concerns about COVID spread in China is a sentiment negative and the strong economic data from the US indicate continuation of the hawkish stance of the Fed which is pushing bond yields up and equities down. Only reversal of this trend will trigger a rebound in the market,” Vijayakumar said. Also, in the midst of the ongoing uncertainty, many investors would also have chosen to book profits with Indian markets touching all time highs recently. In the first half of December, FPIs were buyers in aut