Statistics Canada says foreign investors bought more Canadians securities in February while Canadians sold their holdings of foreign securities.

The agency says foreign investors added $12.5 billion to their holdings of Canadian securities in February, concentrated in federal government bonds.

Meanwhile, Canadian investors reduced their holdings of foreign securities by $2.2 billion.

It was the first time in 10 months that Canadian investors decreased their foreign holdings.

Foreign investors added $442 million of Canadian stocks to their portfolios in February after a $1.5-billion divestment in January.

Canadian stock prices were up 1.5% in February, the second monthly increase in a row.

Canadian investors sold $238 million of foreign stocks in February, all U.S. corporate shares.