Foreign investors purchased $279.2 billion in long-term U.S. securities in August after accounting for adjustments including estimated portfolio acquisitions of U.S. stocks through stock swaps, the Treasury Department said.
Private foreign investors purchased $257.8 billion in long-term securities, while foreign official institutions purchased $42.9 billion.
Total net foreign capital inflows for August, including long-term securities, short-term U.S. securities, and banking flows, reached $199.8 billion. Private foreign inflows totaled $178.5 billion, and foreign official inflows totaled $21.3 billion.
However, foreign holders of U.S. Treasury bills decreased their holdings by $47.8 billion and reduced other short-term U.S. securities and custody liabilities by $37.8 billion.
U.S. residents increased their holdings of long-term foreign securities with net purchases of $21.6 billion, according to the department.