Optimism reached an 18-month high of 14 percent during the first quarter of 2017 but has just as sharply reversed during the second quarter, with a 12-percent increase among CFOs who think that Brexit will worsen the overall business environment.
- Financial pessimism about the effects of Brexit on CFOs' "own spending and hiring decisions" increased, adjusting upward by about 7 percent from the first quarter.
- CFOs continue to perceive Brexit as the biggest risk for the business environment. Weak demand in the UK is also among the highest risks to businesses, according to the CFOs.
- The preferred financial strategy for corporations for the next year is still cost reductions. An additional 3 percent of CFOs selected this approach compared to the fourth quarter of 2016.
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