Indian market faces heaviest FPI selling stretch till date

By

, ET BureauLast Updated: Mar 20, 2026, 05:55:00 AM IST

Synopsis

Foreign investors have withdrawn a record 89,916 crore from Indian stocks. This outflow over 15 sessions is the largest in two decades. Domestic mutual funds bought 71,183 crore to support the market. Previous heavy selling by foreign investors was also cushioned by domestic fund purchases.

Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have pulled Rs 89,916 crore from Indian stocks over a 15-session stretch till March 19, the largest continuous outflow in two decades, according to an ETIG study.

That surpasses the record outflow in a fortnight in October 2024, when overseas fund managers were sellers to the tune of Rs 82,845 crore the period. The other major period of outflows was the 22-session stretch during Covid, when FPIs withdrew Rs 72,948 crore.

Agencies

The latest bout of selling pushed the Nifty down nearly 10% as purchases by domestic mutual funds of Rs 71,183-crore cushioned the fall. During previous heavy spells of FPI selling, domestic mutual funds typically cushioned the market—buying Rs 69,410 crore in October 2024 and Rs 59,320 crore in January-February 2025.

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