UNCTAD: Coronavirus could shrink global FDI by 5% to 15%, airlines among hardest hit

UNCTAD projected (08-Mar-2020) the novel coronavirus epidemic could bring global foreign direct investment flows to their lowest levels since the 2008-2009 financial crisis, cause global foreign direct investment (FDI) to shrink by 5% to 15%. The UN trade body had projected earlier a stable level of global FDI inflows in 2020-2021 with a potential increase of 5% The negative impact on investments will be felt strongest in the automotive, airlines and energy industries. According to UNCTAD, earnings forecasts for fiscal year 2020 for airlines among the the top 5000 listed companies have declined 42%. [more - original PR]