YPO Global Pulse Survey: Confidence among EU business leaders holds firm in first quarter
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
Outlook improves in Germany and UK, but chief executives in France and Greece
less positive
LONDON - 9 May 2017 - YPO, the premier chief executive leadership organisation
in the world, announced today that confidence among chief executives in the
European Union (EU) remained stable in the first quarter of 2017 (1Q 2017),
despite significant fluctuations within the major EU economies. The results of
the YPO Global Pulse Confidence Index for the EU remained positive at 60.9,
maintaining its highest level since April 2016.
While overall sentiment remained steady, there were significant shifts in
confidence within the major EU economies. France saw a sharp decline in
confidence in the weeks preceding the tightly-contested presidential election on
23 April. The Index for France slumped 8.1 points to 54.5, its lowest level
since January 2015.
Greece also reported a severe loss of confidence, following its weak economic
performance, crashing 11.9 points to 46.2, its lowest point since July 2015 and
back in pessimistic territory. Italy saw a more moderate decline, slipping 1.5
points to 59.8.
Germany, on the other hand, enjoyed a strong surge in confidence in the first
quarter, gaining 6.4 points to 62.7, its highest level since January 2011. This
followed stronger than anticipated growth at the end of 2016 and in the first
three months of this year.
The United Kingdom also reported a more positive outlook, jumping 6.0 points to
61.0, its highest level in the past twelve months, and prior to the referendum
decision to leave the EU.
"Despite concerns of an economic slowdown, most economies in the EU have
continued to strengthen and, in some cases, outperform predictions," said Juan
Carlos Fouz Silva, YPO member and CEO of Global Assets Buyout.
"Chief executives in Europe are facing unprecedented levels of uncertainty, both
within the region and beyond, and are operating in an economic and political
landscape that is changing by the day. While the climate for business remains
relatively favourable at present, chief executives will remain somewhat
cautious, particularly with important elections on the horizon in Germany,
France and the United Kingdom."
Non-EU Europe reported the lowest level of confidence in the world, falling 2.5
points to 51.8.
Globally, the YPO Global Pulse Index for the first quarter of 2017 edged up 0.3
point to 62.5, its highest level since January 2015. For the second consecutive
quarter, the United States reported the highest level of confidence in the
world, inching up 0.3 point to 64.9. Confidence in Asia climbed 2.1 points to
land at 63.3, its highest level since April 2015. Africa is the second-least
confident region globally, edging down 0.3 point to 54.4. Elsewhere, confidence
in Latin America dropped by 1.2 points to 57.1, while confidence in the Middle
East and North Africa (MENA) region showed the biggest decline, sliding 4.3
points to 55.2.
Key findings in the EU
Brighter outlook on short-term economic conditions
When asked to assess the economic landscape over the next six months, almost
half (49%) of EU chief executives believed that conditions would improve, whilst
42% felt that there would be little or no change. Only 9% expected the economic
landscape to deteriorate over the next six months. This was a more positive
outlook than in the previous survey, conducted in January, when only 40%
predicted an improvement and 13% predicted a deterioration in the economic
climate over the following six months.
Sales forecasts improve, but hiring and fixed investment forecasts downgraded
EU business leaders remained optimistic about the prospects for revenue growth
within their own organisations over the next 12 months. The YPO Sales Confidence
Index edged up 0.4 point to 66.9, as nearly two-thirds of CEOs (64%) predicted
increased revenue in 2017, compared with only 5% who predicted a decline in
sales.
However, business leaders were less optimistic when it came to their hiring
intentions. The majority (70%) expected the size of their workforce to remain
unchanged over the next 12 months, while 26% expected to increase headcount, and
4% expected to cut staff numbers.
The majority (57%) of CEOs also expected fixed investment levels to remain flat
over the next year, while38% expected to increase fixed investment, and 5%
predicted a decline.
Confidence slumps in France
Business leaders in France were less optimistic during the quarter under review,
amid growing uncertainty surrounding the country's presidential election and the
potential for significant shifts in economic policy.
More than a quarter (29%) of French CEOs stated that economic conditions had
deteriorated in the previous six months, a significant increase on the previous
survey, when only 11% reported worsening conditions.
French business leaders were also notably more cautious about the prospects for
their own organisations in the next 12 months. Only 29% predicted increased
revenue, down from 66% in the previous quarter. As few as 7% predicted increased
headcount, down from 40% in the January survey, and only 29% expected to boost
fixed investment levels, down from 55%. The majority of French CEOs expected
revenue, employment numbers and fixed investment levels to remain flat over the
next year.
YPO Global Pulse Confidence Index
The quarterly electronic survey, conducted in the first two weeks of April
2017, gathered answers from 1,216 chief executive officers across the globe,
including 196 in the European Union. Visit www.ypo.org/globalpulse for more
information about the survey methodology and results from around the world.
# # #
About YPO
The premier leadership organization of chief executives in the world.
YPO is the global platform for chief executives to engage, learn and grow. YPO
members harness the knowledge, influence and trust of the world's most
influential and innovative business leaders to inspire business, personal,
family and community impact.
Today, YPO empowers more than 24,000 members in more than 130 countries,
diversified among industries and types of businesses. Altogether, YPO member-run
companies employ more than 15 million people and generate USD6 trillion in
annual revenues.
Leadership. Learning. Lifelong. For more information, visit YPO.org.
Contact:
YPO
Linda Fisk
Office: +1 972 629 7305 (United States)
Mobile: +1 972 207 4298
press(at)ypo.org
This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Young Presidents? Organization, Inc. via GlobeNewswire
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 09.05.2017 - 06:01 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 541040
Anzahl Zeichen: 7655
contact information:
Town:
Irving, Texas
Kategorie:
Business News
Diese Pressemitteilung wurde bisher 220 mal aufgerufen.
Die Pressemitteilung mit dem Titel:
"YPO Global Pulse Survey: Confidence among EU business leaders holds firm in first quarter"
steht unter der journalistisch-redaktionellen Verantwortung von
Young Presidents? Organization, Inc. (Nachricht senden)
Beachten Sie bitte die weiteren Informationen zum Haftungsauschluß (gemäß TMG - TeleMedianGesetz) und dem Datenschutz (gemäß der DSGVO).
