LONDON.- Christies announces 2011 sales of £3.6 billion / US$5.7 billion, up 9% by £ (14% by US$) compared with 2010 (figures include buyers premium). This includes private sales of £502 million / US$808.6 million, an increase of 44% by £ (50% by US$) on 2010. Christies ability to curate and offer sales of art to a growing audience has led to continued demand across geographies, collecting categories and at all levels. This is a very encouraging set of results, said Steven P. Murphy, Chief Executive Officer, Christies. While we are seeing more investors collecting, there are many more collectors who are increasing their investment in their collections as the explosion of interest in art, fuelled by globalization, facilitated by the technology that increases access to