



India-US deal triggers FPI short covering, but reversal not yet in sight
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), who have been betting against Indian markets since October 2024, were forced to cover nearly two-fifths of their bearish derivatives positions on Tuesday after the announcement of an India-US trade deal. Analysts expect the short covering to continue in the near term.
But a full exit from bearish bets, and a shift to positive positioning, is unlikely until the specifics of the deal are known. Broader geopolitical risks, including tensions with Iran and concerns around an artificial intelligence (AI) bubble, could also weigh on sentiment, they added. FPIs cut their cumulative net bearish positions in futures and options on the Nifty and Bank Nifty by 39% to 542,299 contracts on Tuesday, from a record 887,479 contracts on Sunday.
The move followed news late on Monday that the US would cut tariffs on Indian imports to 18% from 50%. Indian markets remained open on Sunday for the Union budget presentation. This short covering helped push the Nifty up 2.5% to 25,727.55 on Tuesday.
FPIs also made provisional cash purchases of ₹5,236 crore, adding to the rally. Even after the unwinding, FPIs continued to hold large bearish positions, accounting for 61% of outstanding index derivatives positions at Tuesday’s close. At 2pm, the Nifty traded 40 points higher at 25,768.
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