2,000 fresh FPIs registered with Sebi in April-Dec

Signalling a robust interest of overseas investors in the capital markets, more than 2,000 new FPIs registered with Sebi in the first nine months of the ongoing financial year. The capital markets had witnessed 1,444 newly registered foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) in the entire past fiscal 2014-15, according to latest data from Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). The investor sentiment has witnessed a major boost following the formation of the Narendra Modi-led government aiming to improve ease of doing business in the country. A total of 2,047 additional FPIs got approval from the capital market regulator during the April-December period, taking the total number of such investors in the country to 3,491, according to an analysis of data. In a major revamp, Sebi in 2014 had released norms that had clubbed different categories of foreign investors into a new class called FPIs. Under the new regime, FPIs have been divided into three categories as per their risk profile and the KYC (know your client) requirements, while other registration procedures have been made simpler for them.