Investment News · 1 November 2026 · 3 min read
In short: Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold a net ₹34,843 crore of Indian shares in October 2026, as per depository data. They turned net buyers in the last week of the month. Their selling in 2026 is now around ₹3 lakh crore, a record. The US midterm elections on Tuesday, 3 November are the big event for markets this week.
The numbers
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| FPI net selling in October (NSDL/CDSL) | ₹34,843 crore |
| FII selling in October (exchange data) | ₹45,161 crore |
| Domestic institutions’ buying in October | ₹62,220 crore |
| Nifty 50, 30 October close | 23,053.10 (up about 2% for the week) |
| Sensex, 30 October close | 74,459.53 (up 1.83% for the week) |
| Brent crude (January contract) | $113.43 a barrel |
The two FPI figures differ because depository data and stock exchange data count flows differently. Reports also differ on how much FPIs bought in the last week, so we have left that number out.
Domestic institutions, which include mutual funds receiving SIP money, bought more than foreign funds sold. That has softened the fall.
Why the US vote matters here
The midterms will decide who controls the US Congress. As Outlook Money notes, the result will affect how easily President Trump can pass his policy plans. Results will come in through Wednesday, 4 November, India time. Markets usually react to such results through the US dollar, US bond yields and oil prices. These in turn move the rupee, gold and foreign flows into India.
We explained which results to track and when in our US midterm results guide.
What it means for you
- FPI selling mostly hits large companies, where foreign funds own the most. It can also weaken the rupee.
- Oil above $110 a barrel can push up fuel costs and the import bill, another worry for the rupee.
- Markets often swing around big events like an election. SIP investors with long goals don’t need to time them.
- Track new share sales on our IPO tracker.
Dates to watch this week
- Mon, 2 Nov: India manufacturing PMI (October, final).
- Tue, 3 Nov: US midterm elections.
- Wed, 4 Nov: India services PMI; US results become clearer.
- Fri, 6 Nov: US jobs report, 7 pm IST.
- Sun, 8 Nov: Diwali Muhurat trading session.
Sources
- Outlook Money: Stock market next week, crude oil, US midterm elections, PMI data
- Upstox News: Q2 earnings, US midterms, crude oil among triggers next week
- Pressbee: FPIs pull out ₹34,843 crore from equities in October
- Business Standard: Record FPI outflows top ₹3 trillion in CY26
- Angel One: Muhurat trading on 8 November 2026
This is a news summary for education, not investment advice. Figures are as reported on or before 1 November 2026; check official sources before making decisions.