FPIs pour ₹11,452 crore in financial services in the first half of November

• Foreign portfolio investors are bullish on the financial services sector, as per data for the first fortnight of November.
• Financial services sector alone accounted for ₹11,452 crore, or nearly 40% of the ₹28,888 crore of net equity investments by FPIs in this period.
• The sector also accounts for the highest assets under custody of FPIs, with a 32% share out of the total AUC of ₹49 lakh crore.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have taken a shine to the financial services sector in the first fortnight of November, investing ₹11,452 crore, or nearly 40% of their net equity investments in this period.

In the first fifteen days of November, FPIs have invested ₹28,888 crore in Indian equities – with 39.6% of this pumped into the financial services sector alone. The fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector came a distant second – attracting equity inflows of ₹3,514 crore, followed by IT at ₹3,005 crore.


Source: NSDL, November 1-15, 2022 | FPI flows in equity segment

In terms of assets under custody (AUC), too, the financial services sector dominated the FPI allocations, with a share of 32% out of the total ₹49 lakh crore worth equity investments as on November 15, 2022.


Source: NSDL, November 1-15, 2022 | AUC in equity segment

The first fortnight of November also recorded the most equity inflows of any month’s first fifteen days so far in 2022.

“FPIs have turned buyers over the last 1-2 weeks despite record valuation premium relative to both MSCI emerging markets and developed markets, deteriorating global growth outlook, and strengthening Dollar index,” HDFC Securities said in a report earlier this month.

The high FPI inflows also aligns with the performance of the benchmark indices between November 1 and 15 – while the Nifty50 gained 2.2%, the Sensex rose 1.9%.

In this period, the Nifty Bank index rose 2.6%, with two public sector banks in the list of top five performers.


Source: NSE

PSU banks’ strong Q2 performance results in rating upgrades

India’s 12 public sector banks reported a cumulative net profit of ₹25,685 crore in Q2, resulting in ratings upgrades from brokerages.

“September quarter earnings have been good, in fact, banks have done extraordinarily well. Credit growth is picking up for each and every bank, which means there will be investments. If the capex cycle starts, there will be growth in the future, so these are positive indicators,” Sharad Chandra Shukla, director, Mehta Equities, told Business Insider India.

He added that unless there are other geopolitical triggers or the US Fed decides to do another 75 bps rate hike, the FPI buying trends should continue in the near term.

Post its Q2 performance, state-run SBI has seen target price upgrades in the range of 14-29% compared to the current market price of ₹598 (November 22).



SEE ALSO:

PSU banks’ robust Q2 performance ring in analyst upgrades – Rising rivalry for deposits a concern in the medium term

FPIs pour ₹28,888 crore into equities in the first fortnight of November

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