FPIs can invest in govt bonds of 1yr tenure under $5-bn limit

Mumbai: Market regulator Sebi said long -term FPIs such as sovereign wealth and foreign central bank can invest in government bonds having a minimum residual maturity of one year within USD 5 billion category.  “…all investments by long-term FPIs (sovereign wealth funds, multilateral agencies, endowment funds, insurance and pension funds and foreign central banks) in the USD 5 billion government debt limit shall continue to be made in government bonds having a minimum residual maturity of one year,” Sebi said in a circular.  The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), in July, had tweaked the investment limits for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) in government securities by increasing the threshold for general investors from USD 20 billion to USD 25 billion.