Financial issues: uncertainty in eurozone, China and U.S. causes worries.

• Position: NEWS&REVIEWS - Brief article

The eurozone debt crisis, fears of potential slowdowns in China and India and renewed concerns about the economic situation in the United States are just a few of the things that today's global CFOs are concerned about, according to Deloitte's latest Global CFO Signals Survey.

The survey, which brings together the thinking and insights of chief financial officers in 11 countries, shows that pessimism is back again--in full force. The report highlights four key priorities/trends for CFOs through the end of 2012:

1. Defensive Business Strategies Becoming the Norm. In Australia, 73 percent of CFOs say that the current uncertainty will negatively affect their discretionary spending, and increasing cash flow, organic expansion and cost reduction are seen as high priorities. In the U.S., more than 80 percent of CFOs cite a heavy focus on improving process efficiencies in both indirect and direct cost areas.

2. CFOs Agree Now Not the Time to Take Risks. In the Middle East., 72 percent of CFOs say now is not the time to take risks. In Switzerland, this number jumps to 92 percent.

3. CFOs Keep a Close Eye on Government Reform. CFOs are continuing to...