Polson Higgs
December 2008 News Archive
Firms Preparing To Deal With Zero Growth, Survey Shows (17th December, 2008)
Most South Island firms are reviewing their internal structures to cope with anticipated zero or negative growth over the next two years, according to a business leaders survey. The five-year outlook is more positive, however, with three-quarters of all respondents expecting their business to grow, the survey found.
It is the third South Island business leaders survey by accounting firms Polson Higgs and McCulloch and Partners and was completed in early December.
Article of Interest - The Cost of Safety (3rd December, 2008)
Safety first is the name of the game for many investors right now. And with wild day-to-day swings in the markets and hugely divergent performances by securities within the same asset class, who can blame them?
Tolerance for risk is at extremely low ebb, a development reflected in the fact that yields on risk-free assets are at historic lows?in the case of US Treasury bills at levels not seen since World War II.
Yet this risk-averse behaviour masks one of the paradoxes of investment.
In good economic times, when comfort levels are high, the expected return from risk assets is less favourable. In those times, the cost of our willingness to take a risk is a lower expected return.
South Island Business Leaders Survey (1st December, 2008)
In collaboration with McCulloch & Partners, we are now conducting our third South Island Business Leaders Survey. We have launched this survey because we believe there is a need for better information on the issues affecting South Island business leaders.
What's in the survey?
Our initial survey focussed on challenges associated with leadership, organisational culture, and employee recruitment and retention. This survey will revisit some of those areas and will also explores a highly topical theme: how businesses are planning for and dealing with the current volatility in the economic environment.
Last updated: 20th March, 2009 | 2:38 pm
