Foreign direct investment rebounded in February after dropping for eight consecutive months, signaling improving investor sentiment and confidence in the new leadership, analysts said.

FDI rose 6.32 percent year-on-year in February to $8.21 billion. This was the smallest monthly inflow for seven months, according to the Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday.

January's inflow was $9.27 billion, down 7.3 percent from a year earlier. And FDI in the January-February period fell 1.35 percent year-on-year to $17.48 billion, according to the ministry.