#economic-outlook

#economic-outlook

The latest Vistage CEO Confidence Index reveals a mixed sentiment among UK and Irish SME leaders, who are both cautiously optimistic and facing significant challenges.

The Business Roundtable CEO Economic Outlook Index dropped by 15 points in the second quarter to 69, marking its lowest level since 2020 and well below its historic average of 83.

The holding companies for banks such as Bridgewater Bancshares and Heartland Bank and Trust Company mentioned deportations may affect their 'forward looking statements' but weren't clear on the outcomes.

The recovery of the NGX All Share Index amidst geopolitical tensions suggests potential for Nigeria's export receipts, but concerns about sustainability linger.

The increase in VAT was good news. This reflects continued strong levels of employment and the fact that consumers are continuing to spend.

The uncertainty surrounding trade policies is expected to weigh on business investment and exports, while rising government investment in defense and infrastructure will increasingly support growth.

"We saw a robust start to 2025 with 30% sales growth, driven by an impressive 65% sales increase in North America," he observes, starting a basic summary that emphasizes "monetization momentum" and "navigating strategic initiatives and macro uncertainty."

Entrepreneurs remain optimistic about the economy despite tariffs, with half predicting a weaker economy; yet 66% maintain positive revenue expectations and only 9% foresee sales declines.

"Persistently high borrowing costs and everyday price pressures - together with talk of new tariffs and a possible recession - are weighing on household outlooks," Monica Escaleras, chair and director of initiative, said in a statement.

AI's potential to revolutionize businesses is overshadowed by current revenue models heavily reliant on advertising, leading to undervalued stock prices for companies like Meta and Alphabet.

Beijing's consideration of a U.S. offer to engage in tariff discussions has helped ease market concerns, lifting sentiment across Asian currencies.

Despite uncertainty in the market, some companies like Publicis and WPP are actively pursuing M&A deals, indicating resilience in the advertising industry.