FPIs unfazed by excessive valuations, Covid woes; make investments Rs 60,000 cr in six months

Despite excessive valuations and the sharp rise in Covid-19 circumstances, overseas portfolio buyers (FPIs) have remained bullish on Indian markets within the first six months of the calendar 12 months amid expectations of a restoration within the financial system.
The month of June witnessed FPI inflows of Rs 17,215 crore, taking the overall FPI funding in fairness for calendar 12 months 2021 to Rs 60,342 crore. However, the debt market reported FPI outflows of Rs 22,000 crore. Foreign buyers made web investments of over Rs 1.20 lakh crore in November and December 2020 and the most important month-to-month influx in 2021 to date was Rs 25,787 crore in February.
The Sensex has risen 9.9 per cent, or 4,723 factors, to 52,484.67 within the final six months.

S Ranganathan, head of analysis at LKP Securities, stated, “As the profit to GDP ratio hit a 7-year high, FPIs continued to repose faith in Indian equities with positive flows of over Rs 120 billion during the month of June 2021. The month of June witnessed a gradual opening up of the localised lockdown seen in April and May and FPIs bought stocks across sectors like IT, fintech and insurance which again was pretty much broad-based across large-caps and mid-caps.”
In line with the development of sell-off within the debt market, FPIs offered debt price Rs 4,828 crore final month, taking the overall debt promoting to Rs 22,151 crore in CY21. The second half of June witnessed steady promoting in equities by FPIs. In the ten buying and selling classes between June 17 and 30, FPIs offered repeatedly in eight classes.
“The selling in cash markets is actually very high since there are many block deals (predominantly buying) happening outside the cash market. Strengthening of the dollar (dollar index at 92.45) and high valuations are major factors forcing FPIs to sell more in emerging markets like India,” stated VK Vijayakumar, chief funding strategist, Geojit Financial Services.
FPIs might proceed to ebook income in India, going ahead, particularly if progress falters and the restoration takes a success. However, they’re unlikely to promote aggressively despite larger valuations as India Inc is all set to report wonderful numbers in FY22, he added.
“In the medium term, we expect FPI flows to India to remain strong, driven by recovery in growth. Positive export outlook led by a revival in the global economy coupled with low interest rates in the domestic market is expected to augur well for India,” stated Shrikant Chouhan, govt vp, Kotak Securities.
Besides the vaccination drive and a decline in Covid circumstances, expectations of elevated shopper spending and regular monsoon rainfall are prone to drive the home demand. “Also, we expect the upcoming festive season to also boost the domestic demand,” Chouhan added.
Analysts don’t anticipate a giant rise in FPI flows in 2021. “We remain cautious on the FPI flows which will probably be in the range of $20 billion as they keep switching their portfolios across countries,” stated a Care Ratings report.

However, FPI outflows might occur if the greenback worth appreciates. “If the dollar appreciates sharply, there is a risk of foreign portfolio investors pulling out of India, but in our view, given India’s improving fundamentals, FPI outflows would be limited and much lower than during the taper tantrum in 2001,” stated a Credit Suisse Wealth Management report. “If India manages to vaccinate its population faster, the higher-than-average valuation premium for India may sustain given the marked improvement in corporate leverage and return ratios.”
On the flip facet, inflation degree within the USA in addition to in India shocked on the upside. “The Federal Reserve (Fed) officials have started discussing tapering their asset purchase programme (in our view during mid-next-year) and rate hike expectations have been brought forward to 2023,” Credit Suisse stated.