UNCTAD revises downwards FDI flows forecast for 2012 . In the first half of 2012 foreign direct investment (FDI) flows fell by 8% in relation to the first six months of 2011, due to a new slowdown in economic growth, UNCTAD reports. The new forecasts that it publishes consider that FDI flows will, at best, level off slightly below $1.6 trillion for the whole of 2012. “Investment leads economic growth but the current trends of investment flows to developing countries, particularly to Asia, are worrisome”, says UNCTAD Secretary General Supachai Panitchpakdi, pointing to the uncertainties that persist with regard to world economic growth for 2013. Flows reached $668 billion in the first half of 2012, in other words $61 billion less than in the first half of 2011 ($729 billion), due to a decline in flows towards the United States (-$37 billion) and towards the BRIC countries - Brazil, Russian Federation, India, China - (-$23 billion). Developing countries and transition economies continue to absorb more than half of the flows and for the first time the transition economies account for half of this amount. Despite a slight fall in inflows, China features as the largest recipient country in the first half of 2012 with $60.9 billion, followed by the United States ($57.4 billion). Flows towards developing countries have decreased (-11%), those towards the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the African countries, have increased (respectively +8% and +5%). Flows also decreased in the BRIC countries overall. (IL/transl.fl)