Foreign direct investments posted net inflows in August 2016 amounting to US$711 million, up 32 percent from the $539 million in the same period last year, the central bank said Thursday.

The increase was due to a 44.2 percent growth in investments in debt instruments (or intercompany borrowings) to $636 million from $441 million in August.

This more than made up for a decline in net equity capital investments to $8 million from US$37 million last year, the central bank added.

In gross terms, placements of equity capital slightly grew by 2 percent to US$49 million. The bulk of gross equity capital placements came from the United States, Singapore, the Netherlands, Japan, and Hong Kong.

Equity capital placements went mainly to real estate; manufacturing; wholesale and retail trade; electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply; and arts, entertainment and recreation activities. DMS