January 20, 2006	Friday	Zilhaj 19, 1426

WASHINGTON, Jan 19: Investors pumped a record $358 billion into emerging markets in 2005, encouraged by favourable economic conditions and a search for high returns, a report showed on Thursday. The Institute of International Finance, comprised of global banks and other financial institutions, said the net private capital flows to emerging markets represented a gain of $40 billion over 2004 and crushed the previous record of $324bn in 1996.

The IIF predicted a modest decrease in 2006 flows to developing nations to about $322bn.

“How long the pickup in direct investment will last is unclear,” the report said.—AFP