INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: Foreign investors have pumped in Rs 3,935 crore into the Indian debt markets in the first fortnight of the month, driven by a
stable currency and attractive bond yields.
This comes following a net outflow of Rs 12,750 crore in the last two months (February-March)
largely due to a surge in interest rates in home markets as well as rupee depreciation outlook due to crude price and fiscal deficit.
Prior
to that, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) had put in over Rs 8,500 crore in January.
According to depository data, FPIs invested a net sum
of Rs 3,935 crore ($ 605 million) in the debt markets during April 2-13.
"With stable currency and bond yields at attractive levels, FPIs
continue to find value in Indian bonds
The net positive flow into the fixed income segment could also be attributed to the recent increase in FPI limit for investment in
government securities," Morningstar India Senior Analyst Manager Research Himanshu Srivastava said.
Ajay Bodke, CEO and Chief Portfolio
Manager, PMS at Prabhudas Lilladher said that the outlook for investments in debt markets has brightened after the RBI's recently announced
monetary policy that lowered the target for retail inflation to 4.7-5.1 per cent for first half of the ongoing fiscal as against its
forecast of 5.1-5.6 per cent in February 2018.
"This along with RBI raising the investment limit for FPI in central government securities to
5.5 per cent of outstanding stock of securities in 2018-19 and to 6 per cent of outstanding stock of securities in next fiscal led to
cooling-off of yields and renewed interest among FPI's for Indian debt securities," he added.
Going ahead, Srivastava said that rate hikes
by the US Federal Reserve could adversely impact the flows into the debt segment.
In contrast, overseas investors pulled out Rs 1,085 crore
from equities during the period under review due to considerable volatility in global markets on account of the ongoing US-China trade
tensions.
"Domestic political developments, high valuations and application of long term capital gains tax on equities has further dampened
sentiment in India," said Ashish Shanker, head, investment advisory at Motilal Oswal Private Wealth Management.
"This has led to FPIs
withdrawing from equities in India
However, this is too short a time to arrive at a conclusion around this
One will have to wait and watch as to whether this trend sustain," Shanker added
