Asian bonds see fourth straight month of foreign inflow in January

February 16, 2026 7:03 AM EST

A South Korea won note is seen in this illustration photo May 31, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas White/Illustration

Feb 16 (Reuters) - Asian ‌bonds attracted foreign ​inflows ​for a fourth straight month in January as an improving growth outlook and robust ‌demand for regional exports boosted investor appetite.

Foreign investors ⁠bought a net $3.78 billion worth of local bonds in South Korea, ‌Thailand, Malaysia, India and ‌Indonesia last month, compared with net purchases of about $8.07 billion in December, according to data from local ​regulators and bond market associations.

Asia’s factory activity expanded in January as solid global demand lifted export ⁠orders, with manufacturing growth recorded in South Korea, India, Indonesia and Malaysia.

South Korean ​bonds drew $2.45 billion in foreign inflows last month, following roughly $5.48 billion in December. Thai and ​Malaysian bonds attracted $1.5 billion and $235 ‌million, respectively.

"Demand for the region’s debt remains strong, driven by inflows into South Korea," ⁠said Khoon Goh, the head of Asia research at ANZ.

Foreign inflows into Indonesian bonds eased to approximately $400 million last ⁠month from about $2.1 billion a month earlier on concerns over policy ​uncertainty.

Earlier this month, Moody’s cut Indonesia’s credit rating outlook to negative from stable, citing reduced predictability in policymaking.

Indian bonds, meanwhile, saw ‌net foreign outflows of $805 million, the largest monthly selling since April, after Bloomberg Index ‌Services delayed the inclusion of Indian debt in its ⁠global index, surprising investors ‌who had already ​priced in the move.

(Reporting by Gaurav Dogra and Patturaja Murugaboopathy in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank ‌Dhaniwala)



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