FPI Inflow in Equity Nears ₹ 1 Trillion in 2019, Highest in Six Years

There has been increase in the investment by overseas investors in quality large-cap stocks in calendar year 2019 (CY19), with their net investment in Indian equities nearing the Rs 1 trillion (US$ 14.52 billion) mark during this period which is a six-year high. So far in CY19, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have invested a net Rs 99,966 crore (US$ 14.2 billion) in equities. This inflow is highest since CY13, when they made a net investment of Rs 1.1 trillion (US$ 20.1 billion) in equities.

According to the latest available depository data, the FPIs pumped Rs 43,781 crore (US$ 6.36 billion) in the fourth quarter (October – December) of CY19 showing faith after pulling out Rs 22,463 crore (US$ 3.21 billion) from Indian equities during the third quarter (July-September) of CY19 from the equity market.

As per the latest report by BNP Paribas pegs the total flows in six major Asian regions – India, Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia and Philippines at US$ 24 billion at the end of November 2019, compared to an outflow of US$ 16.7 billion in 2018.

“Starting from the third quarter of CY19, foreign flows into Asia were consistently positive. The biggest winners were India (US$ 12.8 billion), Taiwan (US$ 9.1 billion) and Indonesia (US$ 2.9 billion). Flows into Asia should rebound in 2020. Continued rate cuts and a newly begun quantitative easing by the US Federal Reserve, and an ongoing liquidity expansion by other frontline central banks are key potential catalysts for a revival in FII flows,” says Mr Manishi Raychaudhuri, head of equity research for Asia Pacific at BNP Paribas.

A strong FPIs inflow during the year witnessed the benchmark indices — the S&P BSE Sensex (up 15 per cent) and the Nifty 50 (up 12 per cent), registering a double digit returns in CY19. The second-best performance by the benchmark indices was recorded in past five calendar years.

Previously in CY17, the S&P BSE Sensex and Nifty had recovered 28 per cent and 29 per cent, respectively, on healthy inflows by FPIs as well as domestic mutual funds.

During CY17, FPIs had invested a net Rs 51,252 crore (US$ 7.33 billion), while mutual funds had put in Rs 1.2 trillion (US$ 17.17 billion) in equities.

Though, domestic mutual funds pumped in Rs 52,850 crore (US$ 7.56 billion) in equities during CY19. Their holdings in 13 stocks from the Nifty and Sensex stocks, such as ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, HDFC Bank and Bharti Airtel, was at an all-time high level at the end of September quarter. These stocks have seen their market price appreciate between 21 per cent and 56 per cent during the year.

Mr Shankar Sharma, vice chairman & joint managing director at First Global, though, remains careful on the road ahead for flows into India and says the foreign investors remain a worried lot amidst the decrease in growth and the latest political developments.

“Foreign investors are already very worried about India and will soon start worrying more. The recent political developments will add to their list of worries. All these increase the political risk of doing business in India. Companies want stability and a conducive environment to do business. There is a feeling that not enough recognition is being done on the problem at hand. There has to be a bouquet of policies that are needed to revive growth, which have to be backed by logic and a vision,” Mr Sharma said.

Source: IBEF

Image Courtesy: FE