UK firms rush to invest as economy reopens

Higher investment: Commuters leave London Bridge railway station. Deloitte’s poll found that UK CFOs are planning to increase investment, as well as hiring, at the fastest pace in almost seven years. — Bloomberg

LONDON: Big businesses in Britain are rushing ahead with post-lockdown investment plans that could usher in a long-awaited improvement in the country’s weak productivity growth, a survey of chief finance officers (CFOs) showed.

Accountancy firm Deloitte said its poll found CFOs were planning to increase investment, as well as hiring, at the fastest pace in almost seven years and were their most aggressive about acquisitions in 11 years.