However, thanks to the relative calm in the financial markets the investment outflow by the FIIs decelerated slightly during the week. But the jitters in the South-east Asian markets and the devaluation of the rouble had its fair share of influence on the Indian markets which resulted in a net FII outflow of $ 32.7 million (Rs 139 crore) during the week under review. Compared to this, during the previous week ended August 14 the net FII outflow was $ 50.1 million (Rs 213.2 crore).

Going by the latest FII investment figures released by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), the aggregate FII fund outflow for the period ended August 21 was a whopping $ 89 million against a net inflow of $ 19.7 million during the month of July.

In the debt segment, compared to a net sales of debt instruments worth $ 13.6 million (Rs 57.9 crore) during the previous week, the FIIs were totally inactive in this segment during the week.

The BSE Sensex on the other hand has witnessed wide fluctuations since the beginning of this month. From its July 31 close of 3211.31, the Sensex had at one point gone down to a low of 2867.99 on August 18, thus recording a substantial dip of 343 points.

As per the Sebi figures, during the week ended August 21, in rupee terms while net FII purchases in equities were to the tune of Rs 149.8 crore, net sales were close to double that figure at Rs 288.8 crore, thus returning a net outflow of Rs 155.3 crore.

During the period ended August 21, the aggregate of gross purchases by the FIIs were Rs 521 crore whereas gross sales stood at Rs 900.1 crore, thus giving a net investment outflow of Rs 378.2 crore.

The FIIs, who had withdrawn nearly Rs 1800 crore during May and June, had, for a short while reversed the earlier trend to turn net buyers during July. However, the latest figures show that the FIIs are still into the the selling game, which is reflected in the sharp fall in the Sensex during the current month.