Most of the companies surveyed between July 9 and July 19 cite cost reduction as a greater priority than expansion or investment. / Photo: Reuters Archive
The report also pointed to rising optimism around financial prospects, adding to early signs of a pickup in business sentiment since the July 4 victory for the Labour Party. Asked about the election result, 21 percent of companies surveyed by Deloitte said it would boost plans for investment, deal-making and hiring, against 11 percent who said it would detract. More than two-thirds predicted little or no change.Most of the companies surveyed between July 9 and July 19 cited cost reduction as a greater priority than expansion or investment.