The Indian rupee depreciated by 2 paise to close at 94.60 against the US dollar on Tuesday, halting a two-session gain. Despite easing crude oil prices and optimism over a US-Iran peace deal, foreign capital outflows from Indian equities capped the rupee's rise.
Kuwait has launched a new 15-year residency program for eligible foreign investors, business owners, and senior executives to attract global capital and talent. The initiative aims to boost FDI, create jobs, and diversify the economy away from oil, aligning with regional trends like the UAE's Golden Visa.
Foreign investors are reallocating billions of dollars within India, moving capital from large-cap companies to mid-cap and growth-focused stocks. This shift indicates a preference for growth potential over traditional value investments, with overall participation in Indian equities increasing.
Foreign investors sold a record $31.83 billion in Korean stocks in May, continuing a selling trend from April. They also bought $5.68 billion in bonds, resulting in a net sale of $26.15 billion in local securities.
Foreign investors are actively trading single-stock leverage products for Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, buying and selling them repeatedly ('ping-pong' trading) while net selling the underlying stocks. This strategy aims to maximize profits by rebalancing portfolios and capitalizing on short-term price fluctuations in the volatile semiconductor market.
India's government and RBI introduced measures to attract foreign portfolio investors and non-resident funds into government bonds and bank deposits, including tax exemptions and risk mitigation strategies, leading to a significant rupee gain.
Amid escalating Middle East tensions and a US tariff announcement, foreign investors recorded the second-largest net sale of Korean stocks ever (KRW 6.988 trillion). The won/dollar exchange rate surged past 1,540 KRW, a 17-year high, while the KOSPI index fell for the first time in four days.
As of 3:35 PM, foreign investors net sold 69.88 billion won worth of stocks on the KOSPI and 300 million won on the KOSDAQ. Individual investors were net buyers on both markets.
India is set to eliminate capital gains tax on foreign portfolio investors' holdings in government securities to attract overseas investment and cushion its economy from the Middle East crisis. The move, cleared by the Union Cabinet, aims to counter significant foreign capital outflows and rupee depreciation.
India's Union Cabinet recommended an ordinance to ease tax rules for foreign investors in certain securities, aiming to strengthen the rupee amid record FPI withdrawals and economic concerns.
VTB CEO Andrey Kostin stated that growing investor interest from China, Persian Gulf states, and other countries in Russia is a positive development, noting that the Russian market needs foreign investment.
China's 'little giants' scheme identifies specialized SMEs for policy support. While over 17,600 exist, the designation signals policy alignment, not guaranteed commercial success or global competitiveness, differing from Germany's 'hidden champions'.
Foreign investors net bought South Korean stocks worth 1.3 trillion won by 3:30 PM KST, with Alutech, Rainbow Robotics, and Sung Ho Electronics among the top purchased stocks.
As of 3:30 PM, foreign investors were net buyers of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, with significant net purchases also seen in LG Electronics and Hyundai Motor. Samsung Electro-Mechanics and LG Innotek were among the top net sold stocks.
Foreign investors net sold 66.093 billion won worth of stocks on the KOSPI market as of 3:35 PM, while net buying 3.0608 billion won on the KOSDAQ market. Individuals were net buyers on both markets.
Foreign investors sold over 10 trillion won worth of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix stocks last week, marking the longest consecutive selling streak this year. They also bought AI-related stocks like robotics and ESS.
Foreign investors were net buyers of South Korean stocks last week, with SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics being the most purchased. They sold Samsung SDI and Hyundai Mobis.
Foreign investors net bought Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix stocks worth 261.7 billion won and 240.5 billion won respectively during the week of May 18-22. They also net bought SK Square and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.
Foreign investors continued their selling spree for the 12th consecutive trading day, marking the longest streak this year, while the KOSPI saw a slight increase. The KOSDAQ, however, experienced a significant surge, triggering a buy-side car for the second day.
Domestic investors injected $91 billion into Indian equities last year, offsetting foreign outflows and preventing a market freefall, according to BSE CEO Sundararaman Ramamurthy. Foreign sentiment is dampened by weak earnings, oil prices, and a lack of AI ecosystem companies.
South Korea's stock market experienced a surge in volatility on Monday, with the Kospi index falling sharply due to massive foreign investor outflows totaling $13.2 billion last week. A trading curb was briefly activated to calm market swings.
Foreign investors have withdrawn Rs 27,048 crore from Indian equities this month, continuing a trend that has seen Rs 2.2 lakh crore exit in 2026. Global macroeconomic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and a strong US dollar are cited as key drivers.
Foreign investors are hesitant to re-engage with Indian markets until the rupee stabilizes and the government shows willingness to compromise, despite near-term volatility and geopolitical risks, presenting an opportunity for long-term investors.
Foreign investors sold a net $2.13 billion of South Korean stocks and bonds in April, the third consecutive month of net sales, though the outflow narrowed amid Middle East ceasefire hopes and South Korea's entry into the World Government Bond Index.
