Overseas investors poured in over Rs 7,500 crore (USD 1.2 billion) in the equity market since the beginning of the month amid renewed optimism about the Indian economy.

Total foreign investment in the stock market has reached Rs 96,461 crore (USD 17.4 billion) so far in 2013, according to data from the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the capital market regulator.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought equities worth Rs 39,572 crore and sold Rs 32,045 crore of shares during 1st to 22nd November– a net inflow of Rs 7,527 crore.

On 22nd November, FIIs were net sellers of equity for the first time since 3rd October and sold Rs 40 crore of shares on renewed uncertainty about the US Federal Reserve tapering its stimulus programme.

They invested a net Rs 28,700 crore in stocks during the past two months (September-October).

Overseas investors pulled out Rs 4,569 crore from debt securities so far this month. They have withdrawn a net Rs 54,723 crore from the debt market since the beginning of 2013.

FII inflows into the stock markets have been buoyant since September 2013 on the back of continued global liquidity.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram had said earlier this month that the current account deficit has been under control, the fiscal deficit target will be met, export growth is expected to continue and a bumper harvest is likely after the good monsoon.

Industrial production and trade data released earlier this month gave an impetus to foreign investors.

Industrial output rose 2 percent in September from a dismal 0.43 percent in August.

India’s exports rose 13.47 percent to USD 27.27 billion in October while imports dipped 14.5 percent, helping to narrow the trade deficit.

The benchmark 30-stock S&P BSE Sensex closed at a record 21,239.36 on 3rd November.

Since the end of October, the index has declined 947 points, or 4.47 percent, to 20,217.39 points on Friday.

As of 22nd November, the number of registered FIIs in the country stood at 1,743 and the total number of sub-accounts at 6,406.