Webcast will discuss worldwide economic trends

Chartered Global Management Accountants have become more confident about current economic conditions. However, optimism about the global economy as a whole was still at low levels, and the outlook for business prospects varies from region to region.

Those and other key findings from a new quarterly survey of AICPA and CIMA members will be the topic of a webcast next week. CGMA designation holders can earn one free CPE credit and learn about worldwide economic trends by participating from 11 a.m. to noon April 18 in the quarterly CGMA Global Economic Forecast audio webcast. The survey, which was released March 29, showed that CGMAs became more confident in the first quarter of 2012 about current economic conditions.

The survey of more than 600 business leaders who carry the CGMA designation showed that executives in the US and emerging markets were the most upbeat. Pessimism was most prevalent in Europe and the UK. Respondents from Asia lost a little confidence as economic growth in China and India began to slow in the first quarter. But participants in Asia still were more confident than those in the UK and Europe.

More than 50% of survey participants in all regions reported being optimistic about the prospects of their own companies; manufacturing industry respondents were the most optimistic. Sixty-six per cent expected their businesses to expand during the next 12 months.

Participation in the webcast is free for those not seeking CPE. The webcast will feature leading CGMA executives in a dialogue with Alasdair Ross, global product director and editor of the Economist Intelligence Unit Risk Briefing. CIMA Director of Profile and Communications Victor Smart will moderate the webcast.

CGMA designation holders must be logged in to receive their discount for CPE credit, which is available for $55 for AICPA members who are not CGMAs and $68.75 for non-members.

Participants in the webcast will learn about the quarterly CGMA Global Economic Index, a composite of 10 equally weighted economic indicators. The webcast will discuss plans of CGMA executives around the world for revenue, profits, spending, and hiring. CGMA views on inflation, financing, and other challenges also will be shared.

Global economic and political developments and their implications for business also will be discussed, as will regional differences in the survey findings. To sign up for the webcast, click here.

—Ken Tysiac (ktysiac@aicpa.org) and Sabine Vollmer (svollmer@aicpa.org) are CGMA Magazine senior editors.