- Uncertainty eases and optimism shifts back to levels seen last year
- Concerns over the long term effects of Brexit have moderated
- But Brexit tops list of risks and CFOs remain on a defensive footing
However, while perceptions of uncertainty have eased, corporate risk appetite remains below its long-term average and CFOs maintain a focus on defensive strategies.
One hundred and two 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
Twenty-seven per cent 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%.
Thirty-four per cent 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.
Twenty-four per cent 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%).
Seventeen per cent 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. Twelve per cent say they expect hiring to increase, up from 9%.
Brexit concerns moderate but remain top of CFOs’ worry list
Sixty per cent of CFOs say the business environment will be worse when the UK leaves the EU, down from 72% in the previous quarter. Fourteen per cent now say they see a better long term business environment, up from 8% last quarter.
Thirty per cent 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
Ninety-two per cent 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. Half 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.”
Paul Schofield, practice senior partner at Deloitte in Cambridge (pictured), 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.”
About the Deloitte CFO Survey
This is the 41st quarterly survey of Chief Financial Officers and Group Finance Directors of major companies in the UK.
The 2017 Q3 survey took place between 14th September and 4th October 2017.
102 CFOs participated, including the CFOs of 20 FTSE 100 and 40 FTSE 250 companies. The rest were CFOs of other UK-listed companies, large private companies and UK subsidiaries of major companies listed overseas. The combined market value of the 75 UK-listed companies surveyed is £416 billion, approximately 16% of the UK quoted equity market.
The Deloitte CFO Survey is the only survey of major corporate users of capital that gauges attitudes to valuations, risk and financing.
For copies of previous CFO Surveys, please visit www.deloitte.co.uk/cfosurvey.
About Deloitte
In this press release references to “Deloitte” are references to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”) a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of DTTL and its member firms.
Deloitte LLP is a subsidiary of Deloitte NWE LLP, which is a member firm of DTTL, and is among the UK's leading professional services firms.
The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going to press.
For more information, please visit www.deloitte.co.uk