Foreign Portfolio Outflows In April At Rs 8,000 Crore Amid Trade Negotiations
Global market volatility amid trade negotiations keep foreign investors in wait-and-watch mode.
Foreign investors have pulled out nearly Rs 8,000 crore from the Indian capital markets so far this month amid volatility in global markets on account of the ongoing trade negotiations and firming up of bond yields.
This comes following an inflow of Rs 11,654 crore in equities last month and an outflow of over Rs 9,000 crore from the debt markets.
Prior to that, foreign portfolio investors had pulled out more than Rs 11,674 crore from the country’s capital markets (including equity and debt) in February.
FPIs withdrew a net sum of Rs 4,181 crore from equities and another Rs 3,586 crore from the debt markets between April 2-10, according to the latest depository data.
“There is considerable volatility in global markets on account of the ongoing trade negotiations and firming up of bond yields,” said Ashish Shanker, head of investment advisory at Motilal Oswal Private Wealth Management. “Domestic political developments, high valuations and application of long term capital gains tax on equities have further dampened sentiment in India.”
“This has led to FPIs withdrawing from equities in India. However, this is too short a time to arrive at a conclusion around this. One will have to wait and watch as to whether this trend sustains,” he added.
Ajay Bodke, CEO and chief portfolio manager- PMS, at Prabhudas Lilladher agreed. The Indian equity market is in wait and watch mode as the fourth quarter earnings season starts unfolding and turbulence in global equities leads to a cautionary stance on emerging markets on the part of FPI investor, he said.
“However, strong revival in corporate earnings in 2018-19, strengthening industrial growth as evidenced in latest IIP numbers, benign CPI print and acceleration in aggregate demand after overcoming the twin headwinds of demonetisation and rollout of GST will limit any downside for Indian equities and lead to medium-term outperformance vis-a-vis other emerging markets,” he added.