India has sharply increased its exposure to US Government securities with holdings worth $135.7 billion (bn) at the end of July, official data showed. Neighbouring China continued to top the charts with holding to the tune of $1.166 trillion, followed by Japan with exposure worth $1.113 trillion. In recent months, India has increased its purchase of American Government securities and the country is the third largest holder among the BRICS group after China and Brazil ($271.9 billion).
At the end of July, Russia held securities worth $103.1 bn. As per the latest data from the US Treasury Department, India’s holding of the securities touched $135.7 bn as on July end -- also the highest in a year. There has been a significant jump in the exposure compared to June when it stood at $130.3 bn.Since February this year, India’s holding of these securities has been on the rise.
At the end of January, the exposure was just $113.7 bn. India is the 12th largest holder of US government securities just behind Saudi Arabia whose exposure stood at $142.5 bn at the end of July. Other countries in the top ten are Ireland ($310.8 bn) at the third place, followed by Brazil, Cayman Islands ($259.2 bn), Switzerland ($244.8 bn), United Kingdom ($ 229.7 bn), luxembourg ($ 213 bn), Hong Kong ($199.1 bn) and Taiwan ($182.5 bn).