After the investment plummeted in value, it was finally sold for $16,000.

Since then, foreign investment in mining exploration has plummeted to $9 million in 1992, from $57 million.

They also say that many Americans would manage their money poorly and see their investments plummet, leaving them without a retirement safety net.

Trade and investment plummeted, unemployment soared to 25 percent, and inflation reached more than 36,000 percent by 1988.

Private investment plummeted in 1980, and capital flight for that year was US$500 million.

Stock in security companies is rising on Wall Street as other investments plummet.

Private investment plummeted to less than $100 million in 2002 from nearly $1.5 billion in 1999.

Foreign direct investment, however, plummeted by nearly 48pc - perhaps the main reason for establishing the special administrative function to take better care of investor relations.

And though his decision angered many foreigners, whose investments plummeted in value along with the peso, Mexican economic policy remains sound.

Last year, like the rest of the industry, the company suffered when corporate investments in computer technology plummeted.