BENGALURU: Foreigners were net buyers of Asian equities for the fourth straight month in April, but analysts doubt such inflows could be sustained amid an escalating tariff war between the world's top two economies. The United States raised levies on Friday to 25% from 10% on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods and Beijing said it would strike back in the midst of last-ditch talks to rescue a trade deal. Foreign investors have sold $2 billion worth of Asian equities so far this week after a net $11.23 billion purchase last month, data from stock exchanges in South Korea, Taiwan, India, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam showed. Foreigners invested $2.2 billion and $1.8 billion in South Korean and Taiwanese markets respectively, last month. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares posted its fourth straight monthly gain in April on optimism that the United States and China were inching towards a trade deal.

Source: Mint May 10, 2019 11:37 UTC