BRITISH INVESTMENTS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1932, Page 8

BRITISH INVESTMENTS

IN SOUTH AMERICA. RAILWAYS HEAD THE LIST. LONDON, January 2. The current issue ol the “South America Journal” contains an article on “British Investments in Latin-Ame-rica.” At December 31, 1930, the total nominal value of British •investments in Latin-Amoriea was £1,205,000,000. This compares with £1,214,000,000 at the end of 1929 and £999,230,000 at the end of 1913. The return on these investments in 1930 was £52,744,000 equal to 4.3 per cent on the nominal value. No interest was received on £289,600,000 of the investments. In 1913 the revenue was £47,714,000. or 4.7 per cent, when only £82,000,000 of stock failed to yield !t return. The total amount invested is divided as to £337,000,000 in Government bonds, £509,000,000 in railways, £316,000,000 in miscellaneous enterprises, and £43,000,000 in hanks and shipping companies. The.highest percentage return on the capital involved was o.i pei' cent received from the miscellaneous holdings. Banking and shipping investments yielded 5.3 per cent, Government bonds 4.3 per cent, and holdings in railways 3.5 per cent.

The world-wide depression in commodity prices will, of course, substantially reduce the total revenue to he received from these investments in the current year.

It has to he remembered, however, that in addition to the direct revenue receivable, the orders placed in this country' by the various companies for goods and services constitute a substantial source of indirect revenue and employment in our industrial centres.