Financial Optimism Among CFOs Dips 0.8% in Q1 2025

MUMBAI, India, March 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A recent survey of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) in India, conducted by Dun & Bradstreet India, a leading global provider of business decisioning data and analytics, found that CFOs’ confidence for both industrial and services financial performance has reduced compared to Q4 2024.

The Dun & Bradstreet India Composite CFO Optimism Index analyses the optimism level of CFOs on 12 parameters: operating margin, liquidity position, level of financial risk on company’s balance sheet, risk appetite, need for raising short-term and long-term funds, cost of raising funds, availability of funds, domestic and global macro-economic scenario, overall scenario for mergers and acquisitions, and level of financial risks for businesses.

Overall optimism for financial performance reduced marginally by 0.8% in Q1 2025. Optimism on the financial sub-index for the industrial sector has declined by 7.1% Q-o-Q.

There is a decline in the macro-economic sub-index for the services sector in Q1 2025, due to uncertainty about the global recovery. Optimism in the industrial sector for the global macro-economic scenario declined by 9% Q-o-Q due to uncertainty on the global policy front – specifically on trade.

Overall, businesses are expected to benefit domestically from the anticipated rate-cuts and are therefore delaying their requirements for long-term funds for the moment, indicated by a decline in optimism for the need for long term funds. Optimism for company liquidity positions has reduced in Q1 2025, whilst optimism for the need for short-term funds increased in Q1 2025.

Key findings from the survey:

The Composite CFO Optimism Index is at 134.3 for Q1 2025Overall optimism for financial performance has decreased by 0.8% in Q1 2025Optimism for overall macro-economic scenario stands at 168.7 in Q1 2025, increasing by 35.8% on quarterly basisOptimism within Industrial sector for financial performance sub-index declined by 7.1% in 2025Optimism on the Global macro-economic scenario for the corporate sector reduced by 6% Q-o-QOptimism regarding the risk appetite in the current scenario in the services sector reduced by 38% Q-o-QOptimism for company operating margins has reduced by 8% Q-o-Q

Commenting on the findings of the survey, Dr. Arun Singh, Global Chief Economist, Dun & Bradstreet, said, “The Q1 2025 Composite CFO Optimism Index shows a stable yet cautious outlook. While overall financial optimism slightly dropped by 0.8%, shifts across sectors and economic scenarios are evident. Concerns over US trade policies and global protectionism have dampened global macro-economic optimism. The services sector shows reduced risk appetite, and operating margin optimism has decreased by 8% Q-o-Q, reflecting pressure on profitability. In short, while the macro-economic outlook remains positive, CFOs are adopting a more cautious approach to growth and risk management.”

About the Dun & Bradstreet India Composite CFO Optimism Index

The Dun & Bradstreet India Composite CFO Optimism Index, which has been tracking the changing sentiment of CFOs since 2012, is a leading indicator of the Indian financial market as it helps in predicting the performance of the Sensex three months in advance.

A sample of companies belonging to basic goods, capital goods, intermediate goods, consumer durables, consumer non-durables and the services sector is selected randomly from Dun & Bradstreet’s commercial credit information file. The sample selected is representative of India’s business community. All the respondents in the survey are asked a set of questions regarding the financial performance of their companies and the overall macroeconomic scenario for the corporate sector in the forthcoming quarter. The CFOs are asked to state their expectations as to whether the specified parameters pertaining to their respective companies and the overall macroeconomic scenario will register an increase, decrease, or show no change in the ensuing quarter as compared to the same quarter in the previous year. Two broad indices, optimism at the company level and optimism at the macroeconomic level, each consisting of eight and four sub-parameters respectively, are then designed.

About Dun & Bradstreet:

Dun & Bradstreet, a leading global provider of business decisioning data and analytics, enables companies around the world to improve their business performance. Dun & Bradstreet’s Data Cloud fuels solutions and delivers insights that empower customers to accelerate revenue, lower cost, mitigate risk and transform their businesses. Since 1841, companies of every size have relied on Dun & Bradstreet to help them manage risk and reveal opportunity. For more information on Dun & Bradstreet, please visit www.dnb.com.

Dun & Bradstreet Information Services India Private Limited is headquartered in Mumbai and provides clients with data-driven products and technology-driven platforms to help them take faster and more accurate decisions across finance, risk, compliance, information technology and marketing. Working towards Government of India’s vision of creating an Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) by supporting the Make in India initiative, Dun & Bradstreet India has a special focus on helping entrepreneurs enhance their visibility, increase their credibility, expand access to global markets, and identify potential customers & suppliers, while managing risk and opportunity.

India is also the home to Dun & Bradstreet Technology & Corporate Services LLP, which is the Global Capabilities Center (GCC) of Dun & Bradstreet supporting global technology delivery using cutting-edge technology. Located at Hyderabad, the GCC has a highly-skilled workforce of over 500 employees, and focuses on enhanced productivity, economies of scale, consistent delivery processes and lower operating expenses.

Visit www.dnb.co.in for more information.

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CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Companies across South Africa are increasingly building teams and capabilities by integrating independent professionals across functions and levels. Skills in high demand include data analytics, digital transformation, strategy, actuarial and core technology.

According to Outsized’s 2025 Talent-on-Demand Report, organisations are integrating independent talent for various reasons; from execution roles to strategic project delivery, with professionals across South Africa earning between R300 to R1900 per hour, depending on the type of skill and experience level.

South Africa’s talent market is evolving rapidly, shaped by economic shifts, regulatory changes, and accelerated technology adoption, significantly increasing the demand for specialised independent professionals, leading to a 53% increase in freelancer registrations.

Key findings at a glance:

Most in-demand skills: Project management, data analytics, business transformation, technology architecture, actuarial and data technology.Sectors driving the shift: Consulting, Financial Services and Tech, leveraging independent professionals to scale capabilities across strategy, execution, and operations.Freelancer growth: Registrations up 53%, showing strong demand for flexible expertise across experience levels.Day rates: Experienced professionals (11–15 years) average R1,000/hour; top skills exceed R1,530/hour.

Additionally, in the field of software development, experts command hourly rates between R525 and R1,100. Similarly, financial management specialists, including financial analysts and financial reporting professionals, are securing competitive rates ranging from R450 to R1,600 per hour.

A transforming workforce: Agile talent takes centre stage

Outsized, a leading talent-on-demand platform with over 45,000 independent consultants and professional freelancers globally, has released its fourth annual Talent-on-Demand Report, offering real-time insights into how businesses are leveraging independent professionals. Based on tens of thousands of proprietary data points from actual projects posted by enterprises, consulting firms, and private equity clients, the report provides a comprehensive breakdown of talent costs, hiring trends, and in-demand skills across Africa, MENA, and APAC.

For the first time, the 2025 edition also includes insights from Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), expanding its global workforce intelligence.

“Companies can no longer afford slow, rigid hiring processes. Independent professionals offer immediate access to critical skills, cutting delays and costs.” — Johann van Niekerk, Managing Director, Africa at Outsized

Why this matters for business and HR leaders

The 2025 Talent-on-Demand Report serves as a blueprint for workforce transformation, enabling leaders to:

Benchmark talent costs and optimise external hiring budgets.Identify emerging workforce trends across Africa, MENA, and APAC.Gain exclusive day rate intelligence across a broad range of industries and skill sets.Understand how top firms leverage independent talent to accelerate digital transformation and maintain a competitive edge.

Access the full report here

Staying ahead of workforce trends demands real-time intelligence and actionable market insights. Outsized’s 2025 Talent-on-Demand Report serves as a strategic playbook, providing business leaders with essential benchmarking against industry peers. Armed with these insights, leaders can quickly identify emerging talent shifts, optimise hiring budgets, and build agile workforce strategies. Access the full report to stay ahead of the curve: https://resources.outsized.com/talent-on-demand-report-2025.

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Methodology

The 2025 Talent-on-Demand Report is based on original research and tens of thousands of proprietary data points from real projects on Outsized’s platform.

About Outsized

Outsized is a talent-on-demand platform with over 45,000 top independent professionals, enabling large enterprise clients, consulting firms, and private equity funds in Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific to implement flexible workforce models at scale. For more information, please visit www.outsized.com.

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TAIPEI, March 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Taiwantrade.com, Taiwan’s premier B2B e-commerce platform, is set to make waves at TAIPEI CYCLE from March 26 to 29 at TaiNEX 2 (Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center 2). As a bridge connecting global buyers to Taiwanese suppliers, Taiwantrade is pulling out all the stops to create an engaging and rewarding experience for visitors at its booth (S0801, TaiNEX 2, 4th Floor).

Visitors will have the unique opportunity to explore high-quality e-bikes from Taiwantrade supplier members, including Casa Cycle’s CASA UNO electric gravel bike, Spire Cycle’s electric road bike, and G-Max’s Dutte E drive folding bike. Whether you’re a cycling enthusiast or an industry professional, this is your marvelous opportunity to experience Taiwan’s latest advancements in cycling technology and witness its strong manufacturing capabilities firsthand.

But that’s not all—visitors can also test their luck with the “Lucky Taiwantrade” slot machine game. With a spin of the reels, visitors can win exciting prizes, adding extra fun to their Taiwantrade experience. And for those with a sweet tooth, Taiwantrade has something special in store—free Taiwantrade-branded cotton candy to keep energy levels high as visitors explore the show!

In addition to the exciting booth activities, Taiwantrade launched an exclusive Cycle Online Pavilion (https://cyclepavilion.taiwantrade.com), a dedicated showcase featuring an impressive collection of over 7,200 bike-related products from more than 830 Taiwanese suppliers. Buyers are highly encouraged to explore the Cycle Online Pavilion to access top-quality cycling products and enjoy Taiwantrade’s seamless sourcing services.

Whether you’re looking to discover premium bikes, try your luck at winning fantastic prizes, or source top-notch cycling products, Taiwantrade’s presence at TAIPEI CYCLE 2025 is an unmissable highlight. Visit the Taiwantrade booth and Cycle Online Pavilion to experience the best of Taiwan’s cycling industry!

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SOURCE Taiwantrade.com