Statistics Canada says foreign investment in Canadian securities strengthened to $8.4 billion in September and was focused on stocks.

It says Canadian investors reduced their holdings of foreign securities in the month by $1.5 billion, including both debt and equity securities.

Foreign acquisitions of Canadian equities reached $10.8 billion in September, the largest such investment since September 2009.

This followed a divestment of $2.2 billion in August and came as the Canadian stock market rose for a third straight month to close at its highest level since February.

Non-resident investors cut their holdings of Canadian bonds by $2.8 billion in September.

They acquired $400 million worth of Canadian money market instruments, a sixth straight month of investment.