Prospects for direct investment from abroad worsen. - As the financial crisis turns into a protracted global economic crisis, investment prospects are also getting gloomier, according to the most recent edition of the monthly OECD “Investment News” (No.8 November 2008). Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows will fall by 13% and outflows by 6% by the end of the year, compared to at the end of 2007. These falls will, however, be much less severe than those recorded in 2001, when FDI inflows and outflows fell by 49% and 45% respectively. FDI flows will fall sharply in the second half of 2008 and continue to decline into 2009. The tendency to fall will be reflected in a fall in mergers and acquisitions (which account for much of the FDI) by 29% in operations compared to the levels registered last year ($1.7 trillion). (I.L./transl.rh)