Foreign inflows into equity, debt markets rise to Rs 30,950 crore in May

After heavy outflows in the last eight months, inflows by FPls into equity markets in May have hit the highest levels since September last year on the back of de-escalation in Indo-Pak tensions, possibility of a trade deal with the US, a weakening US dollar and better than expected corporate earnings quarter for most companies.

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In May, FPIs bought equity for Rs 19,860 crore through the exchanges, according to NSDL data. The change in FPI strategy in India which began in April continued in May, leading to a marginal 12 bps rise in their ownership in listed companies to 17.5 per cent on a sequential basis. FPls remained sellers in India in the first three months of 2025. The big selling in stocks began in January (Rs 78,027 crore) when the dollar index peaked at 111 in mid-January. The intensity of selling declined and FPIs turned buyers in April with a buy figure of Rs 4,223 crore. Foreign players pulled out Rs 2.16 lakh crore from Indian equity market between October 2024 and March 2025. Total FPI inflows into equity and debt amounted to Rs 30,950 crore in May with debt inflows at Rs 12,155 crore. There was heavy FPI inflow of Rs 29,044 crore into the debt market in March this year. Despite the inflows in May, FPI outflows from equity in 2025 so far were at Rs 92,491 crore. “Global macros like declining dollar, slowing