Indian Investors Embrace Global Debt for Diversification

Terry Bingman
Photo: Finoracle.me

Changing Investment Landscape: Affluent Indians Turn to International Markets for Financial Security

India remains in the spotlight in the ever-changing world economy. While global equity investors increase their stakes in India, a paradigm shift is occurring among domestic investors. The focus is now on diversifying portfolios beyond borders, particularly concerning debt investments.

International investors are augmenting their commitments to India, a trend bolstered by the inclusion of Indian sovereign bonds in global indices. This development is expected to boost foreign investments in both government securities and corporate bonds. At the same time, more and more domestic investors want to protect their investments from ups and downs in the local markets and are looking to invest outside India to diversify their portfolios.

The Rise of International Debt: Why Indian Investors are Looking Beyond Equity

As global economic dynamics evolve, affluent Indians are looking to create a financial safety net by investing in international markets. This trend spans across family offices, corporate treasuries, ultra-high net-worth individuals (UHNIs), and young professionals.

Family offices, for instance, are proactively constructing investment portfolios with securities denominated in USD. The objective is to financially prepare for future needs like education expenses of their children, setting up businesses, asset acquisition, and so on. This early-stage international investment strategy serves a dual purpose, mitigating the impact of inflation and shielding against currency depreciation.

Family Offices and Ultra-High Net-Worth Individuals (UHNIs) Lead the Charge in International Investing

The liberalised remittance scheme (LRS) facilitates this trend, allowing resident individuals to remit up to $2,50,000 per financial year for various capital account transactions, including investments in financial securities like bonds and shares. LRS also permits family members to pool their remittances, enabling a family of four to collectively remit up to $1 million per financial year. Corporate entities are allowed to allocate up to 50 percent of their last audited net worth in offshore markets.

The shift from traditional investments in equity and exchange traded funds (ETFs) to more sophisticated options like boutique investment funds and listed structured notes is indicative of a maturing investment landscape. Indian residents, being consumers of globally recognised tech and FMCG companies, are drawn to the rising stock prices of these companies and their expansive global reach. This, in turn, fuels the aspiration to be a part of their growth trajectory.

Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS): Facilitating Indian Investors’ Entry into International Markets

While global diversification for Indian investors has historically been synonymous with equity markets in the US or other major economies, a recent shift in sentiment is the attention towards fixed-income securities. In a landscape potentially marked by a global economic slowdown and a risk-off sentiment, investors are realizing the appeal of international debt securities as a liquid and low-risk asset class. The sharp rise in global interest rates compared to domestic rates further enhances the attractiveness of dollar-denominated debt investments.

Macro trends also suggest that relative to the RBI, global central banks, especially the US, are poised for substantial rate cuts. This macroeconomic view is influencing domestic investors to include global debt within their overall portfolios.

Diversification into USD-Denominated Financial Assets: A Strategic Shield for Indian Investors

To meet the increasing demand for global debt, some domestic fund houses have introduced international debt offerings in a fund of funds (FoF) structure. However, investor response to such offerings has remained muted, due to mixed performance and dual fund management expenses. Considering this, investors prefer to seize the opportunity by exploring alternative options, like AIFs (alternative investment funds).

Noteworthy among these offerings are those originating from the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), which provides transparency, regulatory compliance, low expense ratios for global investors, and tax efficiency for domestic investors. Additionally, some fund houses offer a ‘performance-based fee structure,’ charging only for the alpha—i.e., the incremental return generated over the average market return or the benchmark index—further enhancing the appeal of these global debt options.

As outbound investments by Indian residents gain momentum, investment solutions are evolving to incorporate specialization, structure, and focus. In an era defined by economic uncertainty and market fluctuations, investors face the challenge of safeguarding their portfolios while optimizing returns. The persistent depreciation and volatility of the INR against the USD necessitates a proactive response to keep the portfolio value competitive.

Diversification into USD-denominated financial assets has emerged as a strategic shield against currency risk. Investors can now participate in a curated portfolio of USD bonds to navigate the global financial landscape with better risk-adjusted returns. As the global equity environment remains volatile, participating in a well-structured portfolio of US bonds can provide investors with the resilience needed in these uncertain times.

Analyst comment

Positive news: Changing Investment Landscape: Affluent Indians Turn to International Markets for Financial Security

As affluent Indians diversify their portfolios beyond borders, foreign investments in India are expected to increase. This trend is fueled by the inclusion of Indian sovereign bonds in global indices, boosting investments in government securities and corporate bonds. The liberalized remittance scheme (LRS) allows for easy remittance of funds to international markets, further facilitating this trend. Overall, the market is expected to see increased international investments and a shift towards fixed-income securities.

Short as an analyst: Increasing international investments by affluent Indians and a focus on diversifying portfolios beyond borders is expected to boost foreign investments in India, particularly in government securities and corporate bonds. The liberalized remittance scheme (LRS) facilitates this trend.

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Terry Bingman is a financial analyst and writer with over 20 years of experience in the finance industry. A graduate of Harvard Business School, Terry specializes in market analysis, investment strategies, and economic trends. His work has been featured in leading financial publications such as The Financial Times, Bloomberg, and CNBC. Terry’s articles are celebrated for their rigorous research, clear presentation, and actionable insights, providing readers with reliable financial advice. He keeps abreast of the latest developments in finance by regularly attending industry conferences and participating in professional workshops. With a reputation for expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness, Terry Bingman continues to deliver high-quality content that aids individuals and businesses in making informed financial decisions.