Foreign Portfolio Investment [Latest News]

When investors from some other country buy securities or some other financial assets, this is referred to as a foreign portfolio investment (FPI). Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange traded funds, American depositary receipts (ADRs), as well as global depositary receipts (GDRs) are a few examples of overseas portfolio investments.

Following the presentation of the Union Budget for 2021-2022, it was reported that the Sensex showed an 11.36% increase due to Foreign Portfolio Investments in India.

This article will give details about Foreign Portfolio Investment within the context of the UPSC Exams.

FPI Latest News

SEBI has proposed enhanced disclosure requirements for high-risk FPIs. Please check the link for more on this development.

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About Foreign Portfolio Investments

Investment in financial assets of a foreign nation, such as stocks or bonds listed on an exchange, is known as foreign portfolio investment (FPI). Since portfolio investments can be easily sold off and are therefore perceived as a short-term effort to make money instead of a long-term investment in the economy, this sort of investment is sometimes viewed less positively than direct investment. Compared to direct investments, portfolio investments often have a shorter time to maturity. Foreign portfolio investors typically anticipate seeing a return on their assets quite fast, just like with any stock investment. The liquidity of portfolio assets makes them simpler to sell compared to direct investments because securities are widely traded. Because they demand significantly less investment cash and due diligence than direct investments, portfolio investments are much more affordable for the typical investor. The investor does not have an influence on the business firm in which the investment is made, in contrast to direct investments.

Making and keeping a hands-off, or passive, investment in a portfolio of assets is done with the hope of getting a return. These securities can be equities or global depositary receipts of corporations with headquarters from outside the investor’s country in foreign portfolio investment. Holding also comprises mutual funds or exchange traded funds (ETFs) that invest in foreign or international assets, as well as bonds or other debt issued by these businesses or foreign governments. The likelihood of an individual investor using an FPI to invest in possibilities located outside of their home nation is high. On a larger scale, a country’s foreign portfolio investment is reflected on its balance of payments as part of its capital account (BOP). The BOP calculates the amount of money that moves from one nation to another throughout a single fiscal year.

Foreign portfolio investments can be done by individuals, companies or even government agencies. Such investments help entrepreneurs in diversifying their portfolios, giving them an edge in international markets. An FPI will be featured in a country’s capital account and is part of the balance of payments which takes stock of money flowing in and out of the country over a specific period of time.

Pros of Foreign Portfolio Investments are as follows:

• Portfolio diversification: FPI enables investors to diversify their portfolios on the international stage.
• International Credit: FPI can give creditors a large crest base as it provides access to credit in foreign nations.
• Benefits from the Exchange rates: If an investor has an FPI in a foreign country with a stronger currency than their own country, the difference in exchange rates between the two countries can benefit the investor.
• Feasibility: Foreign Portfolio Investment option is feasible with retail investors as the amount of money is much less than that of the FDI and involves simpler legalities in general.
• Returns: Foreign Portfolio Investments give quicker returns as compared to that FDI. basically, the investor can sell his or her portfolio investments as and when he/she wants on the prevailing prices of that asset.

Cons of Foreign Portfolio Investments are as follows:

• Control: In contrast to FDI, in FPI the investor has no control over the management or functioning of the firm or business entity whose asset is bought.

• Volatile: Foreign Portfolio Investments are much more volatile to adverse shocks and thus their asset prices fluctuate every second.
• Economic Disruption: Foreign Portfolio Investments are not a dependable option as it is prone to panic sell or whale/shark selloffs thereby reducing the asset price and leading to money crunch on a large scale which may disrupt the economy.

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Foreign Portfolio Investment vs Foreign Direct Investment

In a foreign portfolio investment, it is not necessary for an investor to actively manage the investment or the companies that issue the investment. In other words, they don’t have direct control over the assets.

Through foreign direct investment, an investor is allowed to purchase a direct business interest in a foreign country. For example, an investor based in Bangalore purchases a restaurant chain in Tokyo to lease to n American company that needs space to expand its operations. The investor’s goal is to create a long-term income stream while helping the company increase its profits.

This Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) investor controls their investments directly and plays an active role in deciding where the company puts the money. The investor helps in setting up the business and nurtures it to the point where he/she can ascertain there is a viable return on investment (ROI). Since the investor money is fully committed to the business, they will face liquidity and more risk when selling the interest.

A brief info about the differences between FPI and FDI is given in the table below:

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