Foreign investment in U.S. long-term securities rebounded in July amid growing concerns about debt problems in Europe and the United States, according to government data released Friday.
After shrinking for two months, net purchases of long-term securities rose to $9.5 billion in July, a gain of $6.1 billion, the Treasury Department said.
The July rebound came after foreign investors slashed their holdings in June as U.S. politicians battled over raising the U.S. debt ceiling. The borrowing limit finally was raised on August 2, averting a sovereign default.
It also came in the context of rising fears of a Greek debt default that sparked speculation of a breakdown in the eurozone financial system.
In July, foreign governments and private investors increased their holdings of long-term U.S. Treasury securities by $24.6 billion.
China, the largest holder of U.S. debt, raised its investment in long-term Treasurys for the fourth month in a row, to $1.173 trillion from $1.165 trillion in June.
Japan, the second-biggest U.S. creditor, boosted its holdings to $914.8 billion from $911.0 billion.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2011
