This quarter's CFO Survey is the first to be conducted since
the announcement that the UK's EU membership referendum will
take place on 23rd June. It shows a marked rise in support for the
EU among Chief Financial Officers. 75% of CFOs say they believe it
is in the interests of UK business for the UK to remain in the EU,
up from 62% in the fourth quarter of 2015. 8% of CFOs favour
leaving the EU, up from 6%. The EU scores high marks with CFOs for
its beneficial effects on UK exports, inward investment and
financial services. At the opposite end of the scale only 15% of
CFOs think UK business and the UK economy benefit from the EU's
legal, regulatory and compliance framework.
The dominant concern for CFOs is the forthcoming EU referendum.
It tops the corporate worry list, eclipsing longstanding concerns
about emerging markets and growth in the euro area. While CFOs see
rising risks attached to the referendum, concerns around the other
seven major macroeconomic
