FIIs extend buying streak to 16th day with Rs 2,000 crore inflow

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) continued their bullish stance on Indian equities for the 16th straight session, injecting Rs 2,008 crore into the market on Thursday, May 8. Despite heightened market volatility and global uncertainties, FIIs maintained their buying momentum. In contrast, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) turned net sellers, pulling out Rs 596 crore during the session.

According to provisional data, FIIs made gross purchases worth Rs 22,365.53 crore and sold equities worth Rs 20,357.57 crore, resulting in a net inflow of Rs 2,007.96 crore. Meanwhile, DIIs recorded gross buying of Rs 12,682.67 crore against sales of Rs 13,278.92 crore, leading to a net outflow of Rs 596.25 crore.

So far in 2025, FIIs have remained net sellers to the tune of Rs 1.19 lakh crore, while DIIs have net purchased equities worth Rs 2.18 lakh crore, highlighting the dominant role of domestic investors in stabilizing market sentiment amid global volatility.

Market Recap: Indices Dip on Rising Tensions, Expiry Pressure

After a largely range-bound trading day, both the Nifty 50 and Sensex faced a sharp sell-off towards the close of Thursday’s session. The downturn was driven by profit booking and rising geopolitical concerns, particularly the escalated tensions between India and Pakistan marked by increased cross-border activity.

Adding to investor unease, the weekly derivatives expiry added pressure, triggering heightened volatility. The India VIX — a measure of market fear — jumped 10% to 21.01, indicating increasing nervousness among traders.

Sectorally, the mood was mixed. FMCG, auto, banking, and pharmaceutical stocks were among the worst performers, with their indices shedding nearly 2%. On the other hand, IT and media sectors posted modest gains, bucking the overall downward trend.

Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services, commented, “The market witnessed a late sell-off as investors booked profits amid rising border tensions and a lack of clarity from the U.S. Federal Reserve. The Fed's concerns over the potential inflationary impact of renewed U.S. tariffs added to global uncertainty, impacting investor sentiment.”

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