But first, I shall give you an overview, so that you can appreciate the context of our reform agenda. Economic prospects and financial stability We are all witnessing a markedly more positive sentiment on our economy as manifested in higher investment flows from abroad into both direct equity and portfolio securities. Not surprisingly, domestic investor activity has likewise perked up.
In contrast, upward pressure is also at work, such as the effects of high crude oil prices to date and the improvement in the supply-demand balance in materials industries. Of these two opposite pressures, the latter will be slightly stronger at the corporate transaction stage for the immediate future, and therefore, domestic corporate goods prices are projected to inch up.