Sales of Swedish government securities are booming -- thanks to the country's strong economic comeback after the crisis and stable government finances -- while trade in shares and funds resulted in a capital inflow for the first time since the fourth quarter of 2008.

Foreign investors made net purchases in Swedish debt securities for 78.3 billion kronor ($12.2 billion) during the fourth quarter last year, the statistics office said Friday. Above all, Swedish government securities attracted the greatest interest.

During the last quarter of 2010 cross-border portfolio investments generated a capital inflow of 98 billion kronor net. The outcome for all of 2010 was a net inflow of 142.4 billion kronor.

"Foreign investments in Swedish government securities resulted in considerable inflows during the quarter", Statistics Sweden said.

Trade in shares and funds resulted in a capital inflow for the first time since the fourth quarter of 2008. Foreign investors made net purchases of Swedish shares and funds for 24 billion kronor.

"This large inflow was largely due to Renault's sales of B shares in Volvo during October", the statistics office said.

Swedish investors purchased foreign shares and funds for 7.7 billion kronor net. Investments were primarily made in funds registered in Luxembourg and Ireland as well as in Norwegian and German shares.

Sweden’s central bank last week hiked its most important key interest rate for the fifth time since July as the country’s economic booms and its currency rallies against the euro.

"The Swedish economy remains strong, and the labour market situation is steadily improving. Exports and investment are increasing, and so is household consumption", the Riksbank said.