NSE to auction investment limits worth Rs 4,681 crore on March 8

National Stock Exchange (NSE) will auction investment limits for overseas investors for the purchase of government debt securities worth Rs 4,681 crore on Tuesday.

The auction will be conducted on NSE'-ebid platform from 1530 hours to 1730 hours -- after the close of market hours on Tuesday, March 8, the exchange said in a circular.

The debt auction quota gives overseas investors the right to invest in the debt, up to the limit purchased.

A mock bidding session will be conducted on Friday to check the system's performance.

Depository data showed that total investments, including limits acquired by foreign investors through auction route, stood at Rs 1,30,719 crore till Friday, which was 96.54% of the total permitted investment limit of Rs 1,35,400 crore in government debt securities.

Accordingly, NSE has decided to "conduct an auction for the allocation of unutilised debt limits on March 8, 2016".

During the earlier auctions, the government bonds have been subscribed multiple times, given the huge interest among foreign investors.

The limit for overseas investors in securities was hiked to Rs 1,29,900 crore from October 12 and it was further increased to Rs 1,35,400 crore from January 1, 2016.

Prior to October limit, they were allowed to invest up to Rs 1,24,432 crore in government debt securities through auction.