Profit-taking drives foreign investors to cut Indian equity exposure

After four consecutive sessions of inflows, foreign portfolio investors turned net sellers, offloading ₹1,165.9 crore worth of equities on October 23, NSDL data showed. Domestic institutions stepped in with ₹3,893 crore of net buying, cushioning market sentiment. Analysts said the reversal reflects profit-booking and caution ahead of quarterly results, coupled with uncertainty around global crude prices. Despite the pause, sustained domestic liquidity and improving corporate earnings continue to provide a stabilizing base for benchmark indices.