India, South Korea win most foreign inflows into Asian bonds in August

Reuters: Foreign flows into Asian bonds were mixed in August, with India and South Korean bonds securing most of the regional inflows thanks to their high returns, while concern over slowing economic growth and the US-China trade dispute prompted outflows elsewhere.

Last month, Asian bonds received a combined total inflow of $1.79 billion, data from regional banks and bond market associations in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea and India showed. Overseas investors purchased $1.69 billion worth of Indian bonds in August, the highest in the region, lured by its higher yields.

South Korean bonds attracted $1.44 billion worth of foreign money ahead of more expected interest rate cuts this year, after its central bank surprised investors by cutting its policy rate by 25 basis points in July.

However, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia saw outflows worth $1.02 billion, $242 million and $21 million, respectively. The growing trade war between the United States and China, resulting in the yuan weakening to more than seven yuan per dollar, and concerns about the global economy were behind the risk-off tone in markets in the month, said Khoon Goh, head of Asia research at ANZ.