Weak growth, trade holding back global capital spending

Singapore

WEAK economic growth and trade trimmed foreign capital spending on new and existing factories and offices last year, but the cut was deeper for Singapore.

While foreign direct investments (FDI) worldwide are tipped to pick up this year as trade and economic growth resumes, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) says the rise will be a modest 5 per cent, raising FDI to US$1.8 trillion - still below the 2007 peak.