Posted by NewAdmin on 2025-03-27 08:13:26 |
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After months of aggressive selling, foreign investors have
made a strong return to Indian equities, injecting $1.39 billion this week
alone—marking the largest inflow across all Asian markets. This marks a stark
turnaround from the substantial outflows seen since September 2024, when
foreign institutional investors (FIIs) offloaded over $28.18 billion worth of
Indian stocks. Since March 20, FIIs have been net buyers, purchasing nearly
$2.37 billion in Indian equities, which has bolstered India’s position as a
leading investment destination in the region.
In contrast, other Asian markets continued to see outflows,
with Taiwan experiencing the highest foreign fund withdrawal at $298 million,
followed by Malaysia with $161 million and Thailand at $89 million. The
Philippines and Vietnam also saw net outflows of $64 million and $32 million,
respectively. Indonesia and South Korea did record some inflows—$158.3 million
and $118 million—but India’s inflows have been the standout performance in the
region.
The resurgence in FII flows is largely attributed to the
liquidity-boosting measures taken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the
growing optimism regarding potential interest rate cuts in the upcoming
Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) review in April. The RBI has been actively
supporting the banking system through various mechanisms, including daily and
long-term Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auctions, USD/INR buy-sell swap auctions,
and Open Market Operations (OMO) in government securities. These actions have
significantly improved investor sentiment and stabilized Indian financial
markets.
A key factor driving increased interest in Indian equities
is the recent correction in valuations following an earlier market rally. While
equity prices have cooled, India has become a more appealing investment
destination, particularly as markets in the US and China remain unpredictable.
As a result, Indian stock markets have surged, with the benchmark BSE Sensex
and NSE Nifty rising 5.5% since the start of March. Broader market indices have
also performed well, with the BSE Midcap index up 9.8% and the BSE Smallcap
index up 11.1%, signaling heightened investor enthusiasm.
Despite the positive sentiment, analysts caution that there are still risks on the horizon. Global economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and sector-specific weaknesses could continue to affect market sentiment. While the recent FII inflows signal renewed confidence in Indian markets, some analysts warn that the rally may lack strong, long-term growth drivers. Potential geopolitical risks, including possible retaliatory tariffs from the US, could also dampen investor confidence and influence global capital flows.
While the recent FII inflows are an encouraging sign of
renewed faith in India’s markets, experts stress the need for caution, given
the evolving global macroeconomic landscape. The sustainability of the current
market upswing will depend on factors such as central bank policies, global
economic stability, and ongoing trade developments.