Quarterly analysis of foreign direct investment trends and developments
The OECD has just released its latest quarterly analysis of foreign direct investment trends and developments.
Among the findings are that:
– Global FDI flows picked up in the first half of 2015, increasing by 13% compared to the second half of 2014. Excluding the drop in the first half of 2014, global flows have been on a rising trend since the first half of 2013.
– Record levels of inward FDI flows to the United States in the first quarter of 2015 ($200bn) largely accounted for the increase in global flows. These flows were driven not just by the improved economic performance in the United States but also by cross-border M&As designed to reduce companies’ US tax obligations.
– OECD FDI inflows were up 50% in the first half of 2015 due largely to the record levels of inflows to the United States. OECD outflows were up 10% driven by investments from Irish companies.
– OECD FDI flows for resident special purpose entities (SPEs) increased in the first quarter of 2015, boosted by Luxembourg SPEs which were used in the acquisitions of US companies. The full report is available at:
www.oecd.org/daf/inv/investment-policy/FDI-in-Figures-October-2015.pdf
