Foreign demand for U.S. assets stronger in Nov (by Greg Robb)

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Foreign investors were buyers of a net $58.0 billion of long-term U.S. securities in November, Treasury Department data released Wednesday showed. This was up from a revised $12.2 billion in October. Overseas investors were net buyers of $54.0 billion of Treasurys in November up from $15.3 billion in October. They bought a net $6.2 billion of government agency bonds in November compared with $4.8 billion in October. International demand for corporate bonds remained weak. Foreign-based investors sold a net $7.1 billion of U.S. equities in November. Taking into account purchases by U.S. residents and overseas investors, the net foreign purchases of long-term securities was $59.8 billion in November, up from $8.3 billion in October. According to the data, sales of Treasury bills, bonds and notes directly attributed to Mainland China were $1.5 billion. However, China often trades Treasurys through firms in other countries. Japan was a buyer of $59.9 billion of short and longer-term Treasurys in November. The United Kingdom was a buyer of $18.2 billion of Treasurys.