Press listing
-
25/10/2011 Global business survey finds 65% in Singapore not aware of pending lease accounting changes
According to research from Grant Thornton’s international business report, 65% of businesses in Singapore and 54% of businesses globally are not aware of, and are therefore unprepared for, one the most impactful global accounting changes in the past decade - moving all but short-term leases onto the balance sheet.
-
10/10/2011 Dramatic quarter-on-quarter decline as businesses struggle against rising uncertainty
The latest research from Grant Thornton’s International Business Report (IBR) reveals that net global business optimism has fallen from 31% in Q2 to just 3% in Q3. Ominously, this uncertainty has also spread to key emerging markets with both China and India seeing net optimism decline by 29 percentage points, the highest drop amongst the Asia Pacific economies. Singapore businesses follows with a drop of 27 percentage point in Q3 (37%) from 64% in Q2.
-
06/07/2011 Q2 global business optimism falters
Previously recovering levels of business optimism hit a wall in the second quarter of 2011, with sentiment dipping in the wake of natural disasters, political unrest and economic volatility according to the latest research from Grant Thornton’s International Business Report (IBR). With the impact of the sovereign debt issues in the eurozone still to be felt, the outlook for global business remains uncertain.
-
07/06/2011 What drives CSR activity for businesses?
Findings from the 2011 Grant Thornton International Business Report shows that businesses remain focused on the merits of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in terms of building brand, securing key staff and winning future contracts. Globally, more than half of businesses cite public attitudes/brand building and recruitment/retention of staff as the key drivers (alongside cost management) this year, highlighting the importance of public opinion in shaping businesses' CSR priorities.
-
14/03/2011 Skills shortage and inflation threatens growth of emerging economies
According to Grant Thornton’s latest International Business Report (IBR), emerging markets face a real challenge to the next phase of their growth. Conducted amongst over 5,700 privately held businesses (PHBs) across 39 economies, the report reveals that 42% of businesses in the BRIC economies believe a lack of skilled labour will constrain their ability to grow this year. This is a 17 percentage point upswing on 2010 and is now the most cited constraint on growth in these countries. Singapore PHBs share the same concern, with 41% of businesses citing a lack of skilled labour the number 1 constraint to growth, a 14% point increase from 2010. Aw Eng Hai, partner of Foo Kon Tan Grant Thornton LLP said, “A clamour for skilled people will cause wages to rise and add onto business costs; invariably narrowing competitive edge. Not forgetting the recently announced changes to CPF and foreign workers levy for the lower skilled worker will all add up to business costs.”
-
16/02/2011 M&A volumes look to increase as privately held businesses plan for strategic growth
An increasing number of privately held businesses (PHBs) in Singapore are planning to grow through acquisition according to the Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR). In its latest global study conducted at the end of 2010, the proportion of respondents anticipating making an acquisition in the next three years increased to 29% this year, an increase of 8% compared to twelve months ago. The same incremental percentage is also found across 39 economies in this annual survey - 34% this year compared to 26%.