Foreign investors pulled out a massive Rs 94,000 crore (around $11.2 billion) from the Indian stock market in October, making it the worst-ever month in terms of outflows, triggered by the elevated valuation of domestic equities and attractive valuations of Chinese stocks. Before this, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) withdrew Rs 61,973 crore from equities in March 2020. The latest outflow came after a nine-month high investment of Rs 57,724 crore in September 2024.
Benchmark indices--Sensex and Nifty--were 0.7-0.8 per cent higher from the Saturday closing. Among the widely-tracked Nifty 50 stocks, 39 advanced and the rest 11 declined at the opening bell. Among the individual stocks, Cipla, ICICI Bank, Sun Pharma, Power Grid Corp, and Bharti Airtel were the top five gainers, while Asian Paints, Hindustan Unilever, Britania, HDFC Bank, and BPCL the losers, NSE data showed. On Monday, Indian stock exchanges were closed for trading on the occasion of Pran Pratistha of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
After heavy selling in the past two months, foreign investors have staged a strong comeback to Indian equities with a net investment of Rs 24,454 crore in the first week of December amid stabilising global conditions and expectations of potential US Federal Reserve rate cuts. This revival follows significant outflows in the preceding months, with foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) pulling out a net Rs 21,612 crore in November and a massive Rs 94,017 crore in October - the worst monthly outflow on record.
'Expect FPIs to continue selling for several months until the rupee stabilises.'
After two weeks of buying, FPIs turned net sellers in Indian equities this week, with a net withdrawal of Rs 976 crore amid a strengthening US dollar and steady rise in US 10-year bond yields, impacting investor sentiment. Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) began the week on a positive note, investing Rs 3,126 crore in equities during the first two trading sessions (December 16-20).
'Even if India is attractive, FPIs currently lack the funds to invest, as money is being redirected to the US.'
Foreign investors turned net sellers in October, offloading shares worth Rs 27,142 crore in just the first three days of October due to intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran, a sharp rise in crude oil prices, and improved performance of Chinese markets. The outflow came after FPI investment reached a nine-month high of Rs 57,724 crore in September. Since June, Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have consistently bought equities after withdrawing Rs 34,252 crore in April-May.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on Monday approved the introduction of a new asset class, designed to offer greater flexibility to fund managers and target investors with a higher risk appetite. The markets regulator also cleared the liberalised Mutual Funds Lite (MF Lite) framework, aimed at fund houses that solely launch passively managed schemes. In another significant move, the board reduced the timeframe for rights issues from the current 317 working days to just 23.
Quarterly earnings from corporates, global trends, and trading activity of foreign investors will guide market sentiment this week, analysts said, adding that benchmark indices may face volatile trends. "The upcoming release of Q2 results will be closely watched, providing insights into corporate performance. "Meanwhile, the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran introduce a significant geopolitical risk, potentially leading to increased oil prices and market volatility.
Foreign investors turned net sellers in October, withdrawing shares worth Rs 58,711 crore in the month so far owing to escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, a sharp rise in crude oil prices, and the strong performance of the Chinese market. The outflow came following a nine-month high investment of Rs 57,724 crore in September. Since June, Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have consistently bought equities, after withdrawing Rs 34,252 crore in April-May.
Mutual funds (MFs) reinforced their record monthly inflows in October with an investment of Rs 87,000 crore (up to October 29), softening the downside pressure on domestic markets. Their prior record for monthly inflows was Rs 48,139 crore in May. This unprecedented monthly buying partially countered record monthly sales by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) of Rs 1.1 trillion last month.
Market regulator Sebi does not expect a large number of foreign portfolio investors to be impacted by the new beneficial ownership disclosure norms, according to sources. The norms are set to come into effect from February 1 and against this backdrop, the equity market has witnessed significant volatility, with the benchmark Sensex crashing over 1,000 points on Tuesday after shedding early intraday gains. The sources in the know said FPIs which may be required to provide enhanced disclosures are expected to be significantly less than estimated in the consultation paper and the Sebi board note of October 2023.
The advance/decline ratio (ADR) - a gauge of market breadth - has remained negative (below 1) for a second consecutive month. In other words, the number of stocks declining is outpacing those rising, as a brutal selloff by overseas investors and lofty valuations weigh on sentiment. According to BSE data, the ADR for October stands at 0.98 for the second month in a row.
Industry players said the sharp sell-off in February forced many companies to put off their listing plans
Escalating trade tensions amid a tariff war after Donald Trump took over as President of the United States (US) could adversely impact global growth and fuel inflation, an article on the "State of the Economy" in the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) monthly bulletin said.
The equity benchmark indices posted their strongest weekly gains in years, driven by bargain hunting and optimism over a reversal in foreign portfolio investor (FPI) outflows. The Sensex rose 558 points, or 0.7 per cent, on Friday to close at 76,906, while the Nifty 50 gained 160 points to end at 23,350. Over the past five sessions, both indices advanced around 4.3 per cent - marking the Sensex's best weekly performance since July 22, 2022, and the Nifty 50's strongest rally since February 5, 2021.
China has stayed on top for two consecutive months in the MSCI Emerging Markets Investable Market Index (EM IMI), after ceding the position to India in August. At the end of October, China's weight in the key EM gauge stood at 24.72 per cent, up from 21.58 per cent at the end of August. India's weight during this period has slipped to 20.42 per cent from 22.27 per cent.
'Tax rate and stock markets are entirely two different things.'
Rupee depreciation, if it continues, will likely pull the markets down further. Since September 2024, the rupee has declined by 3.1 per cent, the Nifty has dropped by 8.5 per cent during the same period, and the Sensex has fallen by 7.3 per cent. If the decline continues, markets will need to brace for more pain as it could push foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to exit their positions faster than anticipated.
The heightened global uncertainty due to the US "reciprocal tariffs" on India may cause near-term corrections and market turbulence, but the long-term outlook remains constructive, market experts said on Thursday. The US has announced 27 per cent reciprocal tariffs on India, citing high import duties imposed by New Delhi on American goods.
Domestic PMI data, US Federal Reserve meeting minutes and the progress on India-US trade deal negotiations are likely to influence movement in the equity market in the week ahead, according to analysts. Moreover, the trading activity of foreign investors would also influence the equity market trends.
The Indian government has appointed Finance Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey as the new chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Pandey, a 1987-batch IAS officer, will replace Madhabi Puri Buch, whose three-year tenure ends on February 28. Pandey's appointment comes at a time when the markets are experiencing bear pressure due to withdrawals by foreign institutional investors (FIIs). Pandey has extensive experience in the finance ministry, having served as the longest-serving secretary in the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) and the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE). He also played a key role in the framing of the 2025-26 Budget and the drafting of the new Income Tax Bill. Pandey's appointment is for an initial period of three years.
Foreign investors have continued selling in the Indian market, pulling out a massive Rs 85,790 crore (around $10.2 billion) from equities this month due to Chinese stimulus measures, attractive stock valuations, and the elevated pricing of domestic equities. October is turning into the worst-ever month in terms of foreign fund outflows. In March 2020, FPIs withdrew Rs 61,973 crore from equities.
Despite the listed funds outflow, the foreign portfolio investor activity in the region remained upbeat as other participants remained active
Shares worth over Rs 50,000 crore (or approximately $6 billion) are set to become freely tradable between now and April 10. Historically, such substantial volumes have been absorbed by a buoyant block-deal market.
The government is planning to introduce legislative changes to the Foreign Exchange Management Act (Fema) regulations, with a focus on easing the pathway for inflows from a foreign portfolio investor to transition seamlessly into foreign direct investments (FDI) once the FPI surpasses the 10 per cent ownership threshold in a company. This move stems from multiple requests by foreign investors seeking to streamline the reporting requirements that arise when their stakes in Indian firms cross the 10 per cent mark.
Market watchers believe that the change in guidelines fly in the face of some of the recent initiatives taken by the government, such as easing norms for foreign portfolio investors.
The Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) of the rupee moderated in December to 107.20 after hitting a peak of 108.14 in November, latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) showed. The REER was 103.66 in January 2024. The rupee depreciated around 3 per cent against the dollar in 2024.
Certain foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), which operate as pooled investment vehicles (PIVs), may not be exempt from the additional disclosure mandates by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) following an update in the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for custodians. An updated version of the SOPs has specified several conditions to be met for PIVs to benefit from the exemptions granted. These include no segregated portfolios, independent investment manager, and investors having pari-passu (equal) rights in the entity.
'We believe the truth is in the middle, and that India is at an important crossroads.'
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have withdrawn Rs 25,305 crore from domestic markets since September. FPIs were net sellers in the first two months of 2023, but from March to August, they purchased equities worth Rs 1.7 trillion. This selling trend has caused the National Stock Exchange Nifty Index to decline by 3.2 per cent from its September highs. FPI selling initially began in September as profit-taking but intensified due to rising US bond yields and uncertainty regarding the rate hike trajectory.
'The market's sharp decline recently has shaken the confidence of retail investors, leading to increased selling.'
It is welcome that the government tried to make its intentions clear last week - especially as risk concerns return to global markets.
They have been on an unbroken selling streak since the Union Budget, spooked by increase in income-tax surcharge, taxes on buybacks, and lack of stimulus to prop up the economy.
Global trends, macroeconomic data, and the outcome of the US Fed policy meeting are the major factors that will drive the movement in the domestic equity markets this week, analysts said. "In the upcoming data-centric week, the focus will be on crucial releases, including inflation data from India and the US. "Indian inflation is expected to rise, while US inflation will remain steady.
Notwithstanding the ongoing decline in equity markets week after week, August has proven to be the most successful since December for initial public offerings (IPOs). In August of this year, six companies have collectively raised approximately Rs 4,269 crore through IPOs.
'Legally clean farmland is difficult to find. It requires time, money, and legal effort to verify the title.'
Jayshree P Upadhyay ' Mumbai September 9, 2014 Last Updated at 22:50 IST Top Stocks to Buy in 2014 8-10 Best Stocks for 2014 per month Highly Accurate Calls, Free Trial stockaxis.com/Stocks-to-buy-in-2014 Ads by Google 3 Add to My Page RELATED NEWS Foreign investor cap in bourses may be raised Sebi sets foreign portfolio investor limit of 10% per firm Sebi move on FPI regime grounded No clarity yet on FPI regime Jaimini Bhagwati: Correcting tax and disclosure anomalies Karbonn Titanium S5 Plus Be 1st to own latest Android phone with Dual SIM, 8 MP Camera & more!www.karbonnmobiles.com/S5_Plus 1Cr Life Cover @ Rs 543* Compare Premium of 46 Insurers Buy Online and save upto 55%www.policybazaar.com/TermInsur_Rate Ads by Google In a move that could increase the stake of foreign investors in Indian stock exchanges, the government is considering a threefold increase in the single-investor investment ceiling. Currently,a foreign portfolio investor (FPI) investment in an exchange is capped at five per cent. The finance ministry has written to the regulatory authorities to increase the ceiling to 15 per cent, said sources. The proposal is said to have in-principle approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The move would bring the FPI investment limit in line with those for financial institutions such as insurance companies and banks. NEW POLICY IN THE WORKS Single foreign investor limit in exchanges to be revised from 5% to 15% Sebi and RBI have given in-principle approval to the proposal Government to amend foreign investment policy BSE has 8 foreign shareholders holding 31% stake NSE has close to 20 foreign shareholders holding 36% stake The government allowed the foreign investors to invest in stock exchanges in 2006, with an overall cap of 49 per cent. This latter cap is likely to be unchanged. BSE and the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the two large nationwide bourses, are likely to benefit from the increase in limits. BSE has eight foreign investors, which cumulatively own about 31 per cent in it. The shareholding of Deutsche Boerse Group and Singapore Exchange Ltd are a little below the five per cent ceiling. NSE has about 20 foreign shareholders, holding around 36 per cent. Cyprus' Gagil and Goldman Sachs own five per cent each; Citi Group has around two per cent. "The finance ministry has received representations stating that the present limit of five per cent is a deterrent in attracting long-term anchor and strategic foreign investors in stock exchanges. Following which, the ministry has sought comments from both Sebi and RBI," said a person privy to the matter. A higher foreign investor limit will not only encourage more investment in Indian bourses but help in exchange of technology and products, said exchange officials. "A five per cent limit on the shareholding of any single investor or investor group is too small to encourage them to take sufficient interest in growth of the exchange," said an official associated with one, asking not to be named. The regulator and the government are also mulling a change in the shareholding of clearing corporations, which could also see individual foreign investors' cap being increased to 15 per cent. Some sections of the market believe that allowing a single FPI to own 15 per cent in a exchange could be detrimental to having a diversified shareholding. The Bimal Jalan committee, in the previous review of ownership and governance of stock exchanges in 2010, had debated whether there was a need to revise the cap. It was in favour of having an anchor investor, such as a bank or financial institution, which would own up to 24 per cent. Read more on: Fpi ' Sebi ' Rbi ' Nse ' Foreign Investor ' Singapore Exchange ' Finance Ministry Read More Investors vie for shares of stock exchanges Pick-up in sentiment, volumes boost bourses' unlisted shares HDFC Life Click2Protect+ Get Lump Sum + Monthly Income Benefit* @ Affordable Rate. Buy Now hdfclife.com/Click2ProtectPlus Retirement Calculator Plan Your Retirement Online in 2Min Calculate & Compare Premium Here! policybazaar.com/Retirement Ads by Google Advertisements Get a freedom to choose your own plan. Click here to know more... Data transforming the match-making business. click here Open a free Trading & Demat A/c with Sharekhan Leadership and Corporate Accountability-India. Click here Great fares to Europe from INR 54,000* Amsterdam. Click here Start Investing with the best Broker in india Important Facts about Infant Hearing Screening Gifting Solutions. Make easy & perfect! Find out what converged solutions can do for you. Smart Cloud Virtualized Server Recovery. 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The biggest threats to Apple's dominance video Jaguar takes the battle to BMW video The 5 biggest IPOs in U.S. history video Here is the next-gen spy plane... a blimp video MOST POPULARReadSharedCommented Supreme Court reserves order on coal block allocations Apple launches Watch, two iPhones & Apple Pay Guj rains: Hundreds evacuated in Vadodara, Army on stand-by Neel Mukherjee's book in Man Booker shortlist Mumbai airport keeps airlines guessing on Airbus A380 parking bay Market News A fourth of mutual fund equity assets concentrated in 10 stocks ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Infosys, SBI and L&T among fund managers' preferred bets Den Networks: Investing in new growth avenues Its tie-up with Snapdeal to launch a shopping TV channel looks like a win-win deal Sensex, Nifty retreat from record highs on profit taking The BSE Sensex and Nifty fell on Tuesday from their record highs in the previous session as investors chose to book profits in recent ... 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Small and midcaps are leading the charge in the latest market rebound. Since November 21, when the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex and the National Stock Exchange Nifty hit their recent lows and slipped into correction territory, the Nifty Smallcap 100 index has risen by 8 per cent, while the Nifty Midcap 100 has gained 5.7 per cent. Meanwhile, the Nifty 50 index has risen by 4.7 per cent during this period.
