FII investment in Indian stocks crosses $18 Billion in 2010


FII investment in Indian stocks crosses $18 Billion in 2010
Bangalore: The investment by the foreign institutional investors (FIIs) on Indian stocks has touched $18 billion ( 81,880 crore) so far this year. As per the data available on the SEBI website, net purchases done by FIIs this year till September 24 were worth $17.89 billion. FIIs have bought shares worth 1,136.8 crore ($252 million) in the Indian market on Monday, which brings the year's total to $18.13 billion ( 82,360 crore), according to the data showed on the Bombay Stock Exchange website. The record investment of 2007 ($17.65 billion) was in dollar terms and in rupee terms the highest ever inflow from overseas fund houses was seen in 2009. On the other hand, the FII investment in rupee terms in 2010 is lower compared with 2009 because of appreciation in the Indian currency against the dollar. Last year, FIIs were the net purchaser of shares worth 83,423 core ($17.45 billion), the highest ever in the Indian equity market. During the same year, the stock market benchmark Sensex had recorded a gain of over 80 percent. As per the data available with capital market regulator SEBI, FIIs have made a net buy of shares worth $17.89 billion so far in 2010 and marketmen believe the inflow will not stop here. At Monday's close of 20,117.38, the Sensex is about 5.4 percent away from its record high of 21,206.77, hit on January 10, 2008. According to Pauli Laursen, who oversees Indian equities at SydInvest Asset Management in Copenhagen, India is looking attractive within emerging markets. In so far September alone, foreign funds pumped in $6.73 billion (31,005 crore) in local stocks, as per the SEBI data. FIIs play a significant role in domestic equity markets and their movement (inflow and outflow) causes fluctuation in benchmark indices.