Over Half Of Russian Companies Believe Business Prospects Will Improve - Deloitte

More than half of Russian businesses (51 percent) expect positive changes in companies' financial prospects in the near future, a study conducted by the global accountancy firm Deloitte, seen by Sputnik on Friday, revealed

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th December, 2019) More than half of Russian businesses (51 percent) expect positive changes in companies' financial prospects in the near future, a study conducted by the global accountancy firm Deloitte, seen by Sputnik on Friday, revealed.

Participants in the study were asked to evaluate business prospects regarding the development of companies in Russia in comparison to six months ago. The study is based upon interviews held with financial directors of leading Russian companies, which took place in September and October 2019.

"Today, most business representatives (51 percent) expect optimistic changes in the current financial situation of their company, which contrasts against the high number of neutral assessments in the first half of 2019 (the share of respondents who did not foresee any significant changes was 51 percent), indicating that companies have dealt with many difficulties and are now focused on positive improvements," the authors of the study stated.

While respondents predicted that operating costs would increase, business representatives expect to see an increase in the growth rate of income and operating profits, and a general decrease in capital cost growth. Transport and pharmaceutical companies have the most positive outlook, as more than 60 percent of respondent in these sectors expect business to improve.

The banking sector is the most pessimistic, as 36 percent of respondents in this sector expect negative changes in the coming months.

According to the Deloitte study, small and middle-sized enterprises (defined as companies with revenues below $31.4 million) have the most positive outlook, with 73 percent of these firms expecting business prospects to improve. The second-most positive group is Russia's largest companies, those defined as companies with annual revenues exceeding $784 million � 56 percent of respondents belonging to this group believe that business will improve in the near future.

Respondents cited decreasing levels of risk and uncertainty as the Primary factor shaping their positive outlook. Among the risks that have a significant negative impact on business development in Russia are decrease in foreign and domestic demand, increased protectionism and cyberthreats.

In November, the International Monetary Fund predicted that growth will pick up in Russia in 2020, reaching 1.9 percent. Inflation is also projected to fall below 3 percent early next year.