FPI inflows into stocks more than halved to Rs 26,000 cr in FY18

Foreign portfolio investment in stock markets more than halved to Rs 26,000 crore in 2017-18 on fears of faster than expected rate hike by the US Federal Reserve and higher valuations of Indian equities.

In comparison, overseas investors had put in Rs 55,700 crore in equities in 2016-17 after pulling out over Rs 14,000 crore in the preceding fiscal, according to the data with depositories.

However, a sharp turnaround was seen in foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) inflows into debt markets in the just-concluded fiscal as foreign investors poured in a staggering Rs 1.2 lakh crore in the segment against a net outflow of about Rs 7,300 crore in 2016-17.

Lower FPI investment in equities in FY2017-18 compared to the preceding fiscal does not come as a surprise. The decline has been steady on account of various factors such as Indian market traded at a premium to many other markets, Vidya Bala, the Head of MF Research at FundsIndia.com, said.

"Besides, fear of faster than expected US Fed rate hike resulted in outflows from FPIs in equity," she added.

On the other hand, a stable currency coupled with a higher post-inflation return in lay year led to higher inflows in debt. However, the situation is slowly reversing as there have been debt outflows in February and March of 2018.

The overall net foreign capital inflows of Rs 1.45 lakh crore have made 2017-18 as the best period for the Indian capital markets (equity and debt) in past three financial years.

This year's inflows have pushed FPIs' cumulative net investment in the Indian equity market, since being allowed over two decades ago in November 1992, to Rs 8.86 lakh crore.

The cumulative figure for debt securities has also grown to Rs 4.2 lakh crore -- taking the total for both debt and equities to Rs 13 lakh crore.

The capital poured in by FPIs is often called as 'hot money' due to its unpredictability but overseas entities are still among the most important drivers of Indian stock markets.

Going ahead, both equity and debt inflows will see volatility in 2018-19 in terms of investment by FPIs as a result of global trade tensions, Fed rate hikes in the US as well as 2019 general elections in India.