- United Kingdom: investments by American industrialists in the United Kingdom reached a new record in 1999, the last year for which figures are available, says the consultancy firm DLOITTE & TOUCHE. Investments made in 1999 amounted to $10.1 bn, against 6.1 bn in 1998. This new record places the United Kingdom at the top of European countries targeted by American investments for the third consecutive year, ahead of Germany, the second European country to have gained the largest amount of direct American investments. According to the initial estimates of DELOITTE & TOUCHE, the United Kingdom should beat this record in 2000.