Foreigners add $19.2 billion to EM portfolios in November, IIF says
Dec 13, 2024

By Rodrigo Campos

(Reuters) -Foreign investors added a net $19.2 billion to their emerging market portfolio holdings in November, with selling of stocks more than offset by a continuing flow of cash into EM debt, data from a trade group showed on Friday.

Stock portfolios saw an $11.1 billion outflow while bonds attracted $30.4 billion last month, data from the Institute of International finance showed.

The November net inflow of $19.2 billion compares with a $0.3 billion net outflow in October and an $38 billion inflow in November 2023.

Chinese equities shed $5.8 billion while the country's bonds saw an outflow of $7.5 billion, underscoring investor concerns over geopolitical tensions including an opening of more fronts in the expected trade war with the incoming U.S. administration.

Markets reacted to President-elect Donald Trump's U.S. election win and the subsequent rally in the dollar, which has historically weighed on emerging market assets.

"This sustained pessimism surrounding Chinese equities is rooted in a confluence of factors, including regulatory concerns, slowing economic growth, and persistent geopolitical tensions," IIF economist Jonathan Fortun said in a statement.

Foreigners add $19.2 billion to EM portfolios in November, IIF says

He said the resilience of EM debt markets outside China was underpinned by the ongoing quest for yield and the relative stability of fixed-income assets compared to stocks.

All regions saw net inflows in November with Latin America leading the pack at $6.5 billion, while EM Europe attracted $4.8 billion, Asia $4.6 billion, and Africa and the Middle East $3.4 billion.