The financial services profession’s confidence in the UK’s economic recovery post-Covid has increased in the last six months, a new survey by the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment has shown.
In a survey of 910 respondents, nearly a fifth (18%) said they were more optimistic about the UK’s economic prospects compared with six months ago, while 12% were less optimistic and 70% were neutral.
According to the CISI last survey in winter 2018/19, 55% of financial services professionals were negative about the UK’s economic prospects, compared to 21% who felt positive and 24% who were neutral.
Individuals who expressed positivity for the next six months of this year cited the arrival of a Covid vaccine and the confirmation of a Brexit deal as reasons for stronger economic growth.
Simon Culhane, CEO, CISI, said: “The result of our survey matches the recently reported GfK UK confidence index, which showed the highest level since before the first March 2020 lockdown -16 points, the largest monthly jump in almost a decade.
“Our survey outcome is also in line with the latest IPSOS MORI poll, which reported that economic confidence is the highest since 2015. A deal with Europe on equivalence would provide greater confidence and help to embed the promising recovery.”
