YPO Global Pulse: EU business leaders record highest level of confidence around the world

Global CEO confidence levels hit four-year low LONDON - 3(rd) November 2015 - Confidence amongst CEOs across the EU remained relatively strong during the third quarter of 2015, with business leaders in the region reporting higher levels of optimism than their counterparts around the world. The YPO Global Pulse Confidence Index for the EU, which tracks CEO confidence levels in the region on a quarterly basis, indicated a consistent level of optimism at 60...

New York, 03/11/2015 (informazione.news - comunicati stampa - varie)

 

- Confidence amongst CEOs across the EU remained relatively strong during the third quarter of 2015, with business leaders in the region reporting higher levels of optimism than their counterparts around the world. The YPO Global Pulse Confidence Index for the EU, which tracks CEO confidence levels in the region on a quarterly basis, indicated a consistent level of optimism at 60.2, representing only a slight dip from last quarter's index of 61.6.

 

For the first time in the six-year history of the index, EU business leaders recorded the highest level of confidence around the world, as the outlook in many other regions shifted significantly downwards. The YPO Global Pulse Index composite score landed at 58.1 globally, its lowest level since the third quarter of 2011 at the height of the global economic recession. Confidence in Asia fell by 4.7 points from 62.0 to 57.3, its lowest level since the inception of the survey, whilst the United States dropped 2.9 points to 59.9, representing a three-year low.

 

Interestingly, confidence levels across the major European economies remained unchanged or dipped slightly over the third quarter, whilst optimism in smaller economies climbed significantly, particularly within many of the countries that were hardest hit during the recent eurozone crisis. Germany and France remained stable, falling marginally by about half a point to 55.7 and 57.0 respectively, whilst the United Kingdom slipped 3.9 points from 65.3 to 61.5. On the other hand, confidence jumped 12.1 points (from 42.7 to 52.8) in Greece and 7.7 points in Spain, from 66.4 to 74.1, the highest level of confidence in the EU region.

 

"These results suggest that business leaders in Europe remain cautiously optimistic about the immediate prospects for growth and that fears around the future of the euro have been allayed for the time being," said Anil Kumar, group chairman of Ransat Group and a member of the YPO Europe One and London Mayfair chapters. "Continued low interest rates, cheap oil prices and a weaker euro are all serving to stimulate growth, and to some extent, sheltering European CEOs from the impact of the slowdown in China which is evidently being felt in other regions. Looking ahead to 2016, business leaders will be keeping a very close eye on the financial markets and key economic indicators."

 

 

Whilst overall there was a slight decline in confidence in the EU region, business leaders remained for the most part positive about the immediate economic environment. When looking ahead six months, 41% of CEOs expected the business and economic conditions affecting their organisation to improve, with only 14% expecting conditions to deteriorate.

 

The outlook of the individual components of the index - sales, employment and fixed investment - was also positive.

A majority of respondents (60%) expected to grow revenues in the next 12 months, with only 6% forecasting a decline in turnover; 30% expected to increase total headcount, versus only 7% who expected to see a drop in staff numbers; and 39% expected increased levels of fixed investment, against 8% who forecasted a decrease.

 

The quarterly electronic survey, conducted in the first two weeks of October 2015, gathered answers from 1,915 chief executive officers across the globe, including 165 in the European Union. Visit  www.ypo.org/globalpulse  for more information about the survey methodology and results from around the world.

 

  YPO (Young Presidents' Organization) is a not-for-profit, global network of young chief executives connected through the shared mission of becoming Better Leaders Through Education and Idea Exchange . Founded in 1950, YPO today provides 23,000 peers and their families in 130 countries with access to unique experiences, extraordinary educational resources, access to alliances with leading institutions, and participation in specialized networks to support their business, community and personal leadership. Altogether, YPO member-run companies employ more than 15 million people around the world and generate US$6 trillion in annual revenues. For more information, visit  www.ypo.org .

 

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YPO (Young Presidents' Organization)

Linda Fisk

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