FIIs invest $10 bn in 2014; cumulative investments at $200 bn

Foreign institutional investors have poured over $10 billion into India so far this year taking cumulative inflows into the country to nearly $200-billion, according to the latest data available with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Foreign funds have invested a net $5 billion (over Rs30,000 crore) into Indian equity markets and an equivalent amount into the debt market since the beginning of 2014, taking the total to $10 billion (over Rs60,000 crore).

FIIs began investing into Indian markets since November 1992 and their total investments in equities so far totalled $167 billion and debt investments stood at about $30 billion.

April alone saw net FII investment of about Rs1,500 crore with total inflows during the month (till 25 April) stood at over Rs8,500 crore. However, the debt maket saw a net outflow of about Rs7,000 crore.

FIIs, the main driver of the equity market, have been bullish on India, expecting a stable and reform-oriented government emerging from the general elections, say market analysts.

Foreign funds have helped push up the benchmark BSE Sensex by over 7 per cent so far in 2014, which is now seen heading to the 23,000 mark.

FIIs invested Rs20,077 crore in Indian stocks in March, compared with Rs1,404 crore in February and Rs714 crore in January.

There were over 1,700 registered FIIs and close to 6,400 sub-accounts in the country.