UK CFO optimism rebounds - Deloitte

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Optimism among UK-based CFOs has recovered from its post-election low and is close to levels seen at the end of last year, according to Deloitte’s latest CFO Survey.

However, while perceptions of uncertainty have eased, corporate risk appetite remains below its long-term average and CFOs maintain a focus on defensive strategies.

Some 102 CFOs of FTSE 350 and other large private companies participated in the Q3 2017 CFO Survey. The combined market capitalisation of the 75 listed companies who participated is £416bn, approximately 16% of the UK quoted equity market.

Optimism and risk appetite edge upwards

Some27% of CFOs say they are more optimistic about the prospects for their company than they were three months ago, up from 18% in Q2, while 27% say they are less optimistic, down from 42%.

Some 34% say that the level of uncertainty facing their business is high or very high, down from 43% last quarter and almost half the level seen immediately after last year's EU referendum.

Some 24% say now is a good time to take risk onto their balance sheet, up slightly from 22% in Q2 and three times the level seen after the referendum.

Defensive measures remain high on the agenda

Reducing costs remains CFOs' top priority, with 41% citing it as a key focus, down from 46% last quarter. This is followed by introducing new products and services (39%, down from 42%) and increasing cash flow (35%, down from 36%).
Some 17% say they plan to increase capital expenditure, unchanged from three months ago, while 20% say they plan to expand by acquisition, down from 25%.

Looking across the corporate sector as a whole, 22% of CFOs say they expect businesses to increase capital spending in the coming 12 months, up from 14% last quarter. 12% say they expect hiring to increase, up from 9%.
Brexit concerns moderate but remain top of CFOs' worry list

60% of CFOs say the business environment will be worse when the UK leaves the EU, down from 72% in the previous quarter. 14% now say they see a better long term business environment, up from 8% last quarter.

30% say that capital spending by their business will be lower as a consequence of Brexit, down from 33% in Q2, while

36% say hiring will slow as a result of leaving the EU, down from 38%.

However, Brexit still ranks as the top concern CFOs say their business faces, giving it (on a scale of 0-100) a ranking of 58, down from 60 last quarter. Brexit is followed by weak demand in the UK (53, down from 57) and the prospect of higher interest rates in the UK and US (49, down from 50).

Similarly to Q2's results, UK domestic concerns were ranked highest with concerns about geopolitics and global growth all ranking lower.

CFOs gear up for interest rate rise

Some 92% of CFOs expect the Bank of England's base rate to increase in the next 12 months. In last quarter's survey 41% expected interest rates to remain unchanged. 50% now say they expect interest rates to be at 0.5% in the coming year and 33% expect them to be at 0.75%.

Ian Stewart, chief economist at Deloitte, said: "Optimism among CFOs has rebounded after a slump following the snap general election and perceptions of uncertainty have eased to almost half the level seen immediately after the referendum. Despite Brexit uncertainties a broadening global recovery has helped lift sentiment among CFOs.

"It is testament to the changeable business environment that, eight years into the UK recovery, CFOs remain on a cautious footing with cost control still the number one balance sheet priority."

David Sproul, senior partner and chief executive of Deloitte North West Europe, said: "Concerns over Brexit look to have eased slightly in this latest survey with just under two-thirds of CFOs expecting an adverse effect on the business environment, down from nearly three-quarters in Q2.

"However, CFOs continue to see Brexit as being the top risk facing business. CFOs expect Brexit to have an impact on their business decisions, with almost a third expecting it to reduce their investment plans over the next three years and a third expect it to hit hiring.

"It is critical that progress is achieved soon in the negotiations between the UK and the EU to provide more certainty to business and to deliver a real boost to corporate spirits and plans."

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