2024 RT Amination Banner.gif

China Daily

News> Business> Content
Monday, April 15, 2019, 12:36
Deloitte: British businesses stash cash as Brexit gloom deepens
By Reuters
Monday, April 15, 2019, 12:36 By Reuters

In this file photo taken on Oct 27, 2017 A British Airway airplane climbs after taking off at London City Airport in London on Oct 27, 2017 with the towers and buildings of the Canary Wharf financial district in background. (DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP)

A growing number of large British-based businesses are prioritizing cashflow, fearing a downturn, as their view of the long-term economic impact of Brexit has darkened to its most negative so far, accountancy firm Deloitte said on Monday.

Some 81 percent of chief financial officers surveyed expect Brexit to lead to a long-term deterioration in Britain's business environment, the highest since the question was first asked at the time of June 2016's referendum on leaving the European Union.

ALSO READ: Hammond: Parliament likely to consider 2nd Brexit referendum

Large businesses are clearly looking to protect themselves against risk by raising cash levels and bullet-proofing balance sheets

David Sproul, Chief Executive for northwest Europe, Deloitte

This was up from 78 percent at the end of last year in the quarterly survey of 89 companies, including 15 in the FTSE 100 and 33 in the FTSE 250 share index, plus smaller firms and subsidiaries of major foreign companies.

Deloitte carried out the survey between March 26 and April 7, just after it became certain Britain would not leave on the long-planned date of March 29, and before British Prime Minister Theresa May secured a delay of up to six months.

"Large businesses are clearly looking to protect themselves against risk by raising cash levels and bullet-proofing balance sheets," David Sproul, Deloitte's chief executive for northwest Europe, said.

Official data last month showed British business investment fell every quarter of 2018, the longest decline since the 2008/09 financial crisis.

Speaking on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund's spring meeting in Washington last week, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said a chaotic Brexit remained one of the top three risks to the world economy.

Trade tensions between the United States and China and a slowing euro zone economy have also fuelled fears of a global downturn.

Most large businesses now expect the BoE to keep interest rates on hold over the coming year.

READ MORE: UK PM May defends Brexit delay, critic asks her to resign

The Deloitte survey showed the proportion of CFOs expecting one or more interest rate rises in the next 12 months dropped to 40 percent from 58 percent at the end of 2018.

Deloitte's long-running gauge of corporate risk appetite remained close to lows last seen after 2016's Brexit referendum and during the depths of the financial crisis, and more than half of firms said increasing cashflow was a priority, the highest proportion in nine years.

Share this story

CHINA DAILY
HONG KONG NEWS
OPEN
Please click in the upper right corner to open it in your browser !