Canadians’ heavy investments in foreign securities continued in February, Statistics Canada reported today.

Canadian investors bought $6.2 billion in bonds, stocks and money market paper, during the month.

Meanwhile, non-residents acquired $4.8 billion worth of Canadian securities, reversing the sell-off in January, with almost all the investment in Canadian equities.

Canadians bought $2.3 billion worth of foreign bonds in February, slowing the pace from January’s record purchase of $6.2 billion and a record annual purchase of $43.6 billion in 2006.

Canadian investment in maple bonds, the Canadian dollar-denominated foreign bonds, showed no signs of slowdown.

On top of a $4.6-billion investment in January, residents acquired another $4.8-billion worth in February, with about 60 per cent ($2.9 billion) issued overseas.

Residents shifted their investment focus in the type of U.S. bonds as they sold off $3.4 billion worth of U.S. government bonds while acquiring $4 billion in U.S. corporate bonds.