Govt raises FII limit in government and corporate debt by $5 billion

18 Nov 2011 Evaluate

The government has raised the foreign investment limit in corporate and government debt by $5 billion each, in a move to resolve the issue of poor investor response to government debt and the rupee depreciation. The present foreign investment limit in government debt is already exhausted, whereas the corporate debt is about to exhaust.

'The decision has been taken after a review of the macro-economic situation...it would enhance capital flows into the country,' said a finance ministry official. The rupee has declined by around 13.5% from its year high in July and currently it is hovering nearby Rs 50 per dollar mark, this is expected to increase current account deficit (CAD) to over 3% of GDP in 2011-12 from 2.6% of GDP in 2010-11.

The Foreign Institutional Investor (FII) investment in government securities has been raised to $15 billion from $10 billion and corporate debt, the FII investment limit is raised to $20 billion from $15 billion, making room for foreign investment worth Rs 50,000 crore. These limits were last revised on September 23. Market regulator SEBI will issue a circular giving effect to these changes in the next few days, the official added.

The government’s decision to increase the FII limit in the government debt has come with the Reserve Bank of India’s decision to buy back bonds worth $2 billion next week, which helped to cool bond yields. The most-traded 10 bond yield fell by 9 basis points at 8.79%. The yield on 10-year benchmark paper had last week increased to its 39 month high of 8.94% in hope that the government will not be able to meet its fiscal deficit target and it may have to raise more money from market to meet the deficit gap.

Experts of the industry has welcomed the step taken by the government, as the move will increase the depth of Indian sovereign and high-rated corporate debt by broadening the investor base, increasing demand for gilts and improving foreign fund flows. Because of the global risk, in 2011-12, the portfolio investments have been weak however, debt flows have been strong. Indian firms have borrowed around $21 billion in abroad. However, the FIIs have invested only $2.2 billion in Indian equities and $8.7 billion in debt in 2011-12. 

To increase the capital inflow, the government is considering more measures, which would include an increase in the $30 billion ceiling on overseas borrowing by companies. The government has also put on fast track a proposal to allow individual foreign investors to invest directly into equities as part of the qualified foreign investor framework, or QFIF. Further the finance ministry officials are in talks with the RBI to allow it. The government has already unveiled QFIF for investment in MFs as part of the opening up of financial sector.

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