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CEOs more optimistic on outlook: poll |
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Chief executives of large U.S. multinational companies are more optimistic about the business outlook over the next six months, and more corporate leaders expect to increase hiring this year, according to a survey released on Thursday. |
CEOs also expect better conditions in Europe and Asia, widely approve of Federal Reserve interest rate policy, and identify health-care costs as the main domestic policy challenge, the survey by the Business Council and The Conference Board found.
"The economy is strong," said Council Chairman Jeffrey Immelt, chief executive of General Electric Co. (NYSE:GE).
"Europe seems better, China continues to be strong. People shrugged off the post-Katrina oil shocks," he said on CNBC television, which is part of GE's media portfolio. "Things seem pretty good."
The Council, a nonprofit group of current and former chief executives, reported that 40 percent of the 82 respondents to the survey expect conditions in their industries to improve in the coming six months. In an October survey, just 27 percent expected improvement.
Among the factors supporting optimism are a pick-up in the U.S. manufacturing sector, low inflation, steady economic growth, and an expected retreat in energy prices, the survey found.
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Source - Reuters
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