Foreigners slow net U.S. asset holdings in May ( 10_YEAR ) (by Greg Robb)

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Foreign investors bought a net $23.6 billion of long-term U.S. assets in May, down from $30.6 billion in the prior month, the Treasury Department said Monday. Over the first five months of the year, net inflows into long-term U.S. assets have averaged $32.14 billion, down from an average of $65.2 billion in all of 2010. Foreigners bought a net $44.6 billion of U.S. securities, slightly down from the $44.8 billion purchased in the prior month. U.S. residents purchased a net $21.0 billion of foreign securities in May, up from $14.7 billion in April. International demand for Treasurys accelerated to an increase of $37.9 billion in April from a gain of $23.3 billion in the prior month. Inflows into U.S. stocks fell to $9.3 billion from $17.8 billion in April. Foreign investors sold a net $8.2 billion of U.S. agency debt after net purchases of $7.5 billion in April. Investors purchases a net $5.6 billion of corporate bonds compared with net sales of $3.8 billion in the prior month. According to the data, Mainland China increased its Treasury holdings in May for the second straight month. Japan and the United Kingdom also increased its holdings.