UK business chiefs less concerned about Brexit

Corporate uncertainty at a two-year low, although almost one in three CFOs said their firms still faced high or very high levels of uncertainty, poll shows

Fishermen prepare to leave Whitstable harbour in south England. A new poll shows concerns over leaving the EU have lessened among businesses. Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty

Britain’s Brexit transition deal last month has boosted confidence among finance chiefs at some of the country’s leading companies, a survey published on Monday showed.

Accountancy firm Deloitte said 27 per cent of chief financial officers it interviewed after the deal was struck were more optimistic than three months earlier.

That compared with 18 percent of CFOs who were more optimistic before the deal was struck.

Prime Minister Theresa May and the rest of the EU’s leaders agreed on March 19 to keep their existing trade ties unchanged for 21 months after Brexit in March 2019.

The deal pushed back the risk of disruption for companies until the end of 2020, although for the transition agreement to become effective London and Brussels must first agree on their long-term trade ties for the period after 2020.

Deloitte interviewed 106 CFOs from large British firms and major British subsidiaries of foreign companies between March 7 and March 21. About four-fifths of them responded before the transition deal was reached.

Risk appetite strengthened after the deal, with 23 per cent of those responding after the deal was done saying it was a good time to take on risk, up from 12 per cent beforehand.

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The survey also showed corporate uncertainty was at a two-year low, although almost one in three CFOs said their firms still faced high or very high levels of uncertainty.

Britain’s economy has slowed since the 2016 referendum decision to leave the EU, due in part to weaker growth in investment spending by companies.

“Brexit remains a major concern for UK CFOs, though one which, in the wake of the announcement of the transition deal, is easing,” David Sproul, chief executive of Deloitte North West Europe, said.

“Concerns about the dampening effect on corporate spending plans remain, but they have softened.”

Deloitte said for the first time in two years Brexit was not the top risk for CFOs, being replaced by weak domestic demand.

However, much of that weakness in demand reflects the impact that the Brexit vote has had on spending by British households, who have faced higher inflation caused by the fall in the value of sterling.

Mr Sproul said business confidence would depend on progress in talks about Britain’s new long-term trade ties to the EU.