FPIs turn sellers of G-Secs as rate differential narrows

FOREIGN PORTFOLIO INVESTORS (FPI) have turned net sellers in the Indian G-Sec market this week, after being net buyers in the first week of December.

- ANUPREKSHA JAIN

According to market participants, the sell-off has resumed after the interest rate differential between India and US has narrowed from 300 basis points (bps) to 240 bps.

Indian yields have been softening on expectations of a rate cut from the Reserve Bank of India in February, while the yield on the 10-year US Treasury benchmark has risen to 4.34%—the biggest weekly gain in a year.

Market participants said overvaluation of the rupee vis-à-vis other Asian currencies and RBI's increasing positions in non-deliverable forwards markets have also weighed on FPI inflows in G-Sec.