This has led to speculation that some firms may now try to withdraw capital from Iran.

BBC: Iran's rial slides against US dollar on fresh sanctions

Hedge-fund investors have the right to withdraw their capital, subject to lengthy notice periods.

ECONOMIST: Buttonwood

Compared with private-equity funds, hedge funds are short-term vehicles from which investors can readily withdraw their capital, usually at least once a year.

ECONOMIST: Beating the mid-life crisis

According to Xinhua, Beijing will "withdraw support for foreign capital in auto manufacturing... because of the need of the healthy development of domestic auto making".

BBC: China 'to withdraw' foreign car investment support

If foreign capital were to withdraw abruptly as it did 15 years ago, the effects would not be as ruinous.

ECONOMIST: Emerging markets

The two leaders were yet to meet but their commanders had agreed to withdraw their troops and life in the capital was returning to normal.

ECONOMIST: Congo

In this case the correct tax-planning strategy is to realize only those capital gains you will need to withdraw and spend in the next three years.

FORBES: Capital Gains Tax is an Economic Monkey Wrench (2012)

Easy credit and a property boom have seen Ukraine's capital Kiev expand rapidly but the global downturn has seen investors and those willing to offer loans withdraw.

BBC: IMF aid for Ukraine and Hungary

He confirmed that all Cypriot banks will remain closed until Thursday and that capital controls will be placed on the size and the amount of money people will be allowed to withdraw once the banks have reopened.

BBC: Business

Mr Rumsfeld has welcomed India's decision to end a five-month ban on Pakistani civil aircraft entering its airspace, withdraw its navy from waters near Pakistan and to name, but not yet send, an ambassador to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.

ECONOMIST: War and terrorism | The