It is the first time since 2012-13 that the US has surpassed China as the largest source of approved proposed investment in Australia
The Australian Foreign Investment Review Board released its annual report for 2017-18 and it showed that the value of approvals from US investors increased to $36.5 billion in 2017-18 from the $26.5 billion in 2016-17. In comparison, value of approvals from Chinese investors actually decreased to $23.7 billion in 2017-18 from the $38.9 billion in 2017-18.
According to the report, there was a notable decline in Chinese investments in the manufacturing, electricity and gas sector, the mineral exploration and development sector, the services sector, and in real estate.
It's not something that will have any immediate market consequences but we should at least take note of the slowing/fall in investment from China; if the pattern continues, it could suggest a more cloudy economic outlook for the Australian economy.
