AMMAN — The number of companies under liquidation during the first eight months of this year surged by 247 per cent to 632 firms compared with 182 companies during the same period last year, according to a report issued by the Companies Control Department this week. The report also revealed a 13.8 per cent increase in the number of invalidated companies that reached 2,011 entities whose capital was put around JD69.7 million. The foreign investment volume dropped to JD226.3 million while the number of foreign investors rose to 1,379 led by Iraqis at 39 per cent of the total. Syrian investors ranked second, representing 15 per cent, followed by Emirati investors at 5 per cent. As for registered companies, their number rose by 2.8 per cent to 5,430 from 5,279 firms.