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Dear Sir or Madam, UNCTAD has just issued the Global Investment Trend Monitor. The key message: Investment by South TNCs reaches the highest level: Developing Asia now invests more abroad than any other region. In 2014, transnational corporations (TNCs) from developing economies alone invested almost half a trillion US dollar abroad, a 30% increase from the previous year. Their share in global foreign direct investment (FDI) reached a record of 36%, up from 12% in 2007, the year prior to the financial crisis. Developing Asia has become, for the first time, the world's largest investor region with US$440 billion invested, followed by North America (US$390 billion) and Europe (US$286 billion). In 2014, Hong Kong (China) and China were the second and the third largest investors in the world, after the United States. Among 20 largest investors, nine were from developing and transition economies. Investments by developed country TNCs were largely flat at US$792 billion, with the modest rise in flows from North America and Europe more than offset by a 16% decline in Japanese investment abroad. More than half of investments from TNCs based in developing economies were in equity, while as much as four-fifths of FDI outflows from developed country TNCs were in the form of reinvested earnings ? the result of record amounts of cash reserves in their foreign affiliates. The value of cross-border merger and acquisitions (M&As) surged to US$399 billion in 2014, 28% above 2013 levels. Megadeals dominated the scene in 2014. TNCs from the South continued to acquire developed country foreign affiliates in developing world. Announced greenfield investment projects rose by only 7% reaching US744 billion. The increase was driven mainly by investments from TNCs of the South. Greenfield investors from developed countries, however, account for a larger share (66%). UNCTAD estimates that TNC investment appetite will improve, encouraged by better economic prospects, especially in the United States, proactive monetary policy in the Eurozone and the large cash holdings of companies. However, TNCs remain guarded due to the fragility in some emerging markets, exchange rate volatility and increased geopolitical tensions. For the latest issue of the Global Investment Trends Monitor and the UNCTAD Investment Policy Monitor, please click here. Final FDI data and an in-depth analysis of FDI trends will feature in the forthcoming World Investment Report 2015, to be published on 24 June 2015. Best regards, James Zhan Director, Investment and Enterprise Head, World Investment Report team UNCTAD Palais des Nations, Geneva Tel: 41229175797 www.unctad.org/diae www.unctad.org/wir (World Investment Reports) ____ AIB-L is brought to you by the Academy of International Business. For information: http://aib.msu.edu/community/aib-l.asp To post message: [log in to unmask] For assistance: [log in to unmask] AIB-L is a moderated list.