By Greg Robb
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Foreign investors bought a net $24.0 billion of long-term U.S. assets in March down from $27.2 billion in the prior month. Foreign purchases of U.S. securities were a net $54.7 billion, up from $32.6 billion in the prior month. U.S. residents purchased a net $30.7 billion of foreign securities in March, up from $5.5 billion in February. International demand for Treasurys decelerated to an increase of $26.7 billion in March from a gain of $30.6 billion in the prior month. Inflows into U.S. stocks rose to $14.7 billion from $6.1 billion in February. Agency debt flows rose to $9.5 billion in March after net sales of $1.5 billion in the prior month. Net purchases of U.S. corporate bonds were $3.8 billion in March compared with net sales of $2.5 billion in February. According to the data, Mainland China decreased its Treasury holdings for the fifth consecutive month in March, while Japan and the United Kingdom increased their holdings.
