The combined sales of the 100 largest foreign investing companies in the U. S. increased by a 40% in the two years between 1977 and 1979, and the number has continued to increase steadily. In 1980 South Africa proved to be the largest financial investor in the U. S. controlling about $19. 2 billion in sales. The Netherlands and the U. K. follow as second largest investors--and Germany next. New to the list of the top 100 foreign investors are 12 banking and finance and insurance companies--the largest, the Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corp. , from Hong Kong. The number of Latin American companies engaged in business here is growing steadily, often through third country holding companies. Why are so many firms coming to the U. S. ? There are many reasons. One of the greatest attractions, of course, is a market of over 200 million consumers with a high average per capital income. In addition, with the devalued dollar the cost of American labor has declined significantly, relative to many foreign labor costs. Some firms seeking to avoid economic and/or political pressures at home find the U. S. a politically stable environment in which to work. Many hope to be able to continue selling to the American market even if the U. S. government restricts imports further, or if major price changes occur due to currency fluctuations (波动). Many foreigners are attracted by U.S. technology, its modem management methods, its labor saving and mass production techniques. In 1980 the largest foreign financial investor in the U. S. was from ______.