FPI sell-off in stocks: In 4 months, FPI sales in stocks cross $20 billion – The

MUMBAI: In just four months this year, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net more than $20.6 billion, surpassing the highest ever annual net sales figure in the domestic market.Data from Sebi and NSDL showed that in 2025, FPIs had net sold shares worth $18.9 billion, the largest annual outflow since foreign investors were allowed in 1992. In rupee terms, net selling so far in 2026 is at Rs 1.9 lakh crore while during the entire year 2025 it is at Rs 1.7 lakh crore. In the last two months alone, since the start of the war in West Asia, foreign institutional investors have acquired nearly Rs 1.8 lakh crore ($18.2 billion) worth of equity on a net basis.

So far this year, just in February, FIIs have been net buyers of Indian stocks, worth Rs 22,615 crore ($2.5 billion), NSDL data showed.The war led to a sudden and sharp rise in the price of crude oil, India’s largest import, threatening to derail the country’s financial numbers and damage the economy. This, in turn, weakened the rupee against most major currencies. This, coupled with sluggish growth outlook for Indian companies and high equity valuations compared to Indian counterparts among emerging economies globally, has led to sharp selling by foreign funds, market participants said.Foreign funds have been almost constant sellers of Indian stocks since October 2024, picking up about $51.5 billion worth of Indian stocks. In the last 19 months to April 2026, they were net buyers in just six months.