The US-Iran war has exacerbated existing vulnerabilities in the Indian stock market. Rising global crude oil prices, driven by the conflict, have fueled inflationary pressures and concerns about GDP growth. This has prompted foreign institutional investors (FIIs) to reduce their exposure to riskier assets like Indian equities. The rupee depreciation further compounds the problem, making Indian assets less attractive to foreign investors.
Factors Driving FII Outflows:
1.Geopolitical Tensions: The US-Iran war has created a risk-averse environment.
2.Crude Oil Prices: Rising prices impact inflation and the current account deficit.
3.Rupee Depreciation: A weaker rupee reduces the appeal of Indian assets.
4.Attractive Valuations in Developed Markets: Developed markets offer better returns.
Domestic Investor Support:
Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) have partially offset the FII selling with record buying. However, their support has not been enough to fully counter the impact of global factors.
Road Ahead:
Analysts believe that FII selling may continue in the first half of the financial year 2026-27. A reversal may occur once the war settles down, crude oil prices decline, and the rupee stabilizes. Key conditions for FIIs to return include:
• US Federal Reserve rate cuts.
• Regulatory easing of FPI limits.