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Foreign Portfolio Inflows At $6 Billion In March On Hopes Of Reform

The inflows follow a net investment of Rs 15,862 crore in equity and debt last month

Indian two thousand and five hundred rupee banknotes are arranged for a photograph in Mumbai, India (Photographer: Dhiraj Singh/Bloomberg)  
Indian two thousand and five hundred rupee banknotes are arranged for a photograph in Mumbai, India (Photographer: Dhiraj Singh/Bloomberg)  

Foreign investors have pumped in about $6 billion into the capital markets so far this month, buoyed by expectations that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) victory in assembly polls is a precursor to bold, reformist policies in India.

The inflows follow a net investment of Rs 15,862 crore in equity and debt last month. Prior to that, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) had pulled out a total of over Rs 80,000 crore between October to January.

According to depository data, FPIs infused a net of Rs 22,268 crore in equities between March 1-24 and another Rs 16,177 crore in the debt segment, translating into a combined inflow of Rs 38,445 crore ($5.84 billion).

Investors believe that the government will continue with its bold reformist policies following a huge win in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Bajaj Capital Senior Vice President and Head Investment Analytics Alok Agarwala said.

"This decisive win in the largest state by population (UP) is positive for FPI sentiment and resulted in higher FPI inflows as overseas investors get more bullish about the continuance of the reforms process in the country," he explained.

The BJP formed a government in four of the five states that went to the polls recently. It formed a government in UP, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa, while in Punjab Congress came to power.

Geojit Financial Services Chief Market Strategist Anand James said, "The prospects of gradual US rate hikes looks to have improved the risk appetite. This should also mean that, save a negative surprise from the monsoon forecast, Q4 numbers should prompt investors to be forward looking."

So far this year, FPIs have invested Rs 30,994 crore in equities and Rs 19,818 crore in debt, taking the total inflow to Rs 50,811 crore ($7.68 billion).