Category: 3. Business

Amsterdam, 6 January 2026 – Arcadis N.V. (Arcadis), the world’s leading company delivering data-driven sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets, repurchased 246,237 of its own shares in the period 29 December 2025 – 2 January 2026 at an average price of €35.73. The total consideration of this repurchase was €8,798,027.

The total number of shares repurchased under this program to date is 3,680,327 shares for a total consideration of €141,923,695 at an average price of €38.56.

The repurchase is in accordance with the share buyback program to reduce the capital of Arcadis, as announced on 1 October 2025.

Overviews of all transactions under this program are published in weekly press releases and on the website of Arcadis.

UK CFOs upbeat on tech investment and potential for AI to boost productivity for year ahead

• More than half of finance chiefs (59%) have become more optimistic over the past 12 months on the potential for AI to boost the performance of their organisation, up from 39% in Q3 of 2024; 

• Almost all of them (96%) expect to see a rise in investment in digital technology and assets by UK companies in the next five years; 

• Corporate risk appetite (15%) has edged up from the lows seen in September (12%) but remain well below average levels (25%); 

• CFOs who rated the level of external uncertainty as high or very high fell this quarter to 38%, compared to the last quarter at 41%. 

Deloitte’s latest survey of UK Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) shows that 59% of the UK’s largest businesses have become more optimistic over the past 12 months on the potential for AI to boost the performance of their own organisation – up from 39% when last measured in the third quarter of 2024. 

CFOs overwhelmingly (96%) expect to see a rise in investment in digital technology and assets by UK companies over the next five years. The survey – which took place between 2nd and 14th December – also found the vast majority (77%) expect an increase in productivity growth and business performance over the same period. 

Richard Houston, senior partner and chief executive of Deloitte UK, said: “CFOs are significantly more positive about improving performance through deploying AI and remain upbeat about technology investment over the medium term. We know technology was a big driver of US GDP in 2025 and we see real potential in the year ahead for AI to boost UK business performance and fuel growth. However, to realise the full value from AI, we must combine human skills with technology and upskill people, so nobody is left behind.” 

Risk appetite increases with reduction in pessimism

Risk appetite edged up at the end of 2025, with 15% of CFOs saying that it was a good time to take greater risk onto their balance sheet. This is up 12% from the last quarter, though well below the long-run average of 25%. 

Business optimism in Q4 also picked up from the Q3 low, more positive than Q4 2024 and in line with levels that were seen in March 2025. Nonetheless, the reading on business confidence remains negative at net -13%¹, below its long-run average.  

More expansionary strategies remained a lesser priority although the proportion of CFOs reporting that capital expenditure is a strong priority, rose to a two-and-a-half-year high of 17% and is now running marginally above the long-term average of 15%. 

Uncertainty declines but geopolitical concerns remain  

The number of CFOs who rated the level of external uncertainty as high or very high fell this quarter to 38%, compared to the last quarter at 41%. This is the lowest level since Q3 of 2024 (31%). 

Geopolitics remains the top external risk² for finance chiefs of large UK businesses heading into 2026 – as it has in the previous three years, with a rating of 65 compared to 62 in the previous quarter. 

The second highest rated risk relates to UK competitiveness and productivity with a rating of 62, which remains at the highest level since the question was first asked in late 2014. The risk of higher energy prices or disruption to energy supplies rounds out CFOs’ top three risks for 2026, however the rating has marginally fallen this quarter to 47, from 48 in September.  

Ian Stewart, chief economist at Deloitte UK, said: “Business sentiment is subdued but more positive than a year ago. While CFOs remain cautious about geopolitics and productivity, business confidence and risk appetite have ticked up from their autumn lows and perceptions of external uncertainty have edged lower.”  

– Ends –   

Note to editors     

¹ A number of the Deloitte CFO survey findings are presented in terms of net balances – standard practice with surveys conducted by many central banks. In the case of optimism, CFOs were asked whether they were more or less optimistic about the financial prospects of their business compared to three months ago. The net balance (net -13%) was then computed by subtracting the percentage of CFOs who reported feeling less optimistic from those who reported feeling more optimistic. Net balances can be negative or positive. In the case of optimism, a negative reading implies a greater proportion of CFOs reported feeling less optimistic than reported feeling more optimistic. Throughout this press release and the survey report, net percentages indicate where net balances are used to present findings. 

² The 12 risk areas tracked in the survey are:     

– Rising geopolitical risks worldwide including greater protectionism  

– Poor productivity/weak competitiveness in the UK economy    

– Higher energy prices or disruption to energy supplies    

– Persistent labour shortages    

– The risk of higher inflation and/or a bubble in housing and other real and financial assets     

– The prospect of further rate rises and a general tightening of monetary conditions in the UK and US    

– Long-term effects of climate change     

– Economic weakness and/or volatility in US growth    

– Medium-term supply chain disruption     

– Deflation and economic weakness in the euro area, and the possibility of a renewed euro crisis     

– Effects of Brexit/deterioration in UK-EU relations    

– Weakness and/or volatility in emerging markets    

About the survey      

Conducted between 2nd and 14th December 2025, the Q4 2025 Survey is the 74th quarterly survey of Chief Financial Officers and Group Finance Directors of major companies in the UK. 

Overall, 55 CFOs participated, including the CFOs of nine FTSE 100 companies and 18 FTSE 250 companies. The rest were CFOs of other UK listed companies, large private companies and UK subsidiaries of major companies listed overseas. The combined market value of the 31 UK-listed companies surveyed is £389 billion, or approximately 14% of the quoted UK equity market. 

The Deloitte CFO Survey is the only survey of major corporate users of capital that gauges attitudes to valuations, risk and financing. 

For copies of previous CFO surveys, please see here.  

UK CFOs upbeat on tech investment and potential for AI to boost productivity for year ahead

• More than half of finance chiefs (59%) have become more optimistic over the past 12 months on the potential for AI to boost the performance of their organisation, up from 39% in Q3 of 2024; 

• Almost all of them (96%) expect to see a rise in investment in digital technology and assets by UK companies in the next five years; 

• Corporate risk appetite (15%) has edged up from the lows seen in September (12%) but remain well below average levels (25%); 

• CFOs who rated the level of external uncertainty as high or very high fell this quarter to 38%, compared to the last quarter at 41%. 

Deloitte’s latest survey of UK Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) shows that 59% of the UK’s largest businesses have become more optimistic over the past 12 months on the potential for AI to boost the performance of their own organisation – up from 39% when last measured in the third quarter of 2024. 

CFOs overwhelmingly (96%) expect to see a rise in investment in digital technology and assets by UK companies over the next five years. The survey – which took place between 2nd and 14th December – also found the vast majority (77%) expect an increase in productivity growth and business performance over the same period. 

Richard Houston, senior partner and chief executive of Deloitte UK, said: “CFOs are significantly more positive about improving performance through deploying AI and remain upbeat about technology investment over the medium term. We know technology was a big driver of US GDP in 2025 and we see real potential in the year ahead for AI to boost UK business performance and fuel growth. However, to realise the full value from AI, we must combine human skills with technology and upskill people, so nobody is left behind.” 

Risk appetite increases with reduction in pessimism

Risk appetite edged up at the end of 2025, with 15% of CFOs saying that it was a good time to take greater risk onto their balance sheet. This is up 12% from the last quarter, though well below the long-run average of 25%. 

Business optimism in Q4 also picked up from the Q3 low, more positive than Q4 2024 and in line with levels that were seen in March 2025. Nonetheless, the reading on business confidence remains negative at net -13%¹, below its long-run average.  

More expansionary strategies remained a lesser priority although the proportion of CFOs reporting that capital expenditure is a strong priority, rose to a two-and-a-half-year high of 17% and is now running marginally above the long-term average of 15%. 

Uncertainty declines but geopolitical concerns remain  

The number of CFOs who rated the level of external uncertainty as high or very high fell this quarter to 38%, compared to the last quarter at 41%. This is the lowest level since Q3 of 2024 (31%). 

Geopolitics remains the top external risk² for finance chiefs of large UK businesses heading into 2026 – as it has in the previous three years, with a rating of 65 compared to 62 in the previous quarter. 

The second highest rated risk relates to UK competitiveness and productivity with a rating of 62, which remains at the highest level since the question was first asked in late 2014. The risk of higher energy prices or disruption to energy supplies rounds out CFOs’ top three risks for 2026, however the rating has marginally fallen this quarter to 47, from 48 in September.  

Ian Stewart, chief economist at Deloitte UK, said: “Business sentiment is subdued but more positive than a year ago. While CFOs remain cautious about geopolitics and productivity, business confidence and risk appetite have ticked up from their autumn lows and perceptions of external uncertainty have edged lower.”  

– Ends –   

Note to editors     

¹ A number of the Deloitte CFO survey findings are presented in terms of net balances – standard practice with surveys conducted by many central banks. In the case of optimism, CFOs were asked whether they were more or less optimistic about the financial prospects of their business compared to three months ago. The net balance (net -13%) was then computed by subtracting the percentage of CFOs who reported feeling less optimistic from those who reported feeling more optimistic. Net balances can be negative or positive. In the case of optimism, a negative reading implies a greater proportion of CFOs reported feeling less optimistic than reported feeling more optimistic. Throughout this press release and the survey report, net percentages indicate where net balances are used to present findings. 

² The 12 risk areas tracked in the survey are:     

– Rising geopolitical risks worldwide including greater protectionism  

– Poor productivity/weak competitiveness in the UK economy    

– Higher energy prices or disruption to energy supplies    

– Persistent labour shortages    

– The risk of higher inflation and/or a bubble in housing and other real and financial assets     

– The prospect of further rate rises and a general tightening of monetary conditions in the UK and US    

– Long-term effects of climate change     

– Economic weakness and/or volatility in US growth    

– Medium-term supply chain disruption     

– Deflation and economic weakness in the euro area, and the possibility of a renewed euro crisis     

– Effects of Brexit/deterioration in UK-EU relations    

– Weakness and/or volatility in emerging markets    

About the survey      

Conducted between 2nd and 14th December 2025, the Q4 2025 Survey is the 74th quarterly survey of Chief Financial Officers and Group Finance Directors of major companies in the UK. 

Overall, 55 CFOs participated, including the CFOs of nine FTSE 100 companies and 18 FTSE 250 companies. The rest were CFOs of other UK listed companies, large private companies and UK subsidiaries of major companies listed overseas. The combined market value of the 31 UK-listed companies surveyed is £389 billion, or approximately 14% of the quoted UK equity market. 

The Deloitte CFO Survey is the only survey of major corporate users of capital that gauges attitudes to valuations, risk and financing. 

For copies of previous CFO surveys, please see here.  

Australia’s sharemarket has swung to a loss after an early lift, as valuation concerns and portfolio rebalancing dragged on the index.

The S&P/ASX200 fell 37.9 points on Tuesday, down 0.43 per cent, to 8,690.7, as the broader All Ordinaries lost 31.2 points, or 0.35 per cent, to 9,003.5.

Only two sectors ended the session clearly higher, with raw materials stocks surging two per cent on strong commodity prices, while financials, utilities, consumer staples and health care stocks all lost more than one per cent.

The Australian dollar is buying 67.25 US cents, hovering at 14-month highs and up from 66.75 US cents on Monday at 5pm.

From a Sydney bar to the world stage, Takashi Matsumoto has been named the world’s top
bartender, beating some of the biggest names in mixology.

Takashi impressed judges with his creativity and calm precision, rising above rivals from
America, Europe and Asia in the Nikka Perfect Serve global final, held recently in Hong Kong.

The prestigious event challenged contestants on a range of skills including hospitality,
communication, bartending, product knowledge and creativity, as well as the choice and
taste of the cocktails.

This competition’s theme, Bridging Time and Taste, asked contestants to create a drink that
connects the timeless tradition and modern innovation of Nikka Whisky, which has been
making whisky since 1934, drawing inspiration from their own heritage.

Participants could use any Nikka spirit – whisky, gin, or vodka – to bring their vision to life,
preparing three cocktails: two omakase drinks improvised for judges playing different guest
roles, and their signature Bridging Time and Taste cocktail.

Like Nikka, Takashi was born on Hokkaido, Japan. This link inspired his winning cocktail, drawingon the flavours of apples, famous in the northern region of Japan, heather, lavender and Yoichi whisky to create a perfectly balanced flavour hit.

His cocktail Northern Legacy is a tribute to the journey of Nikka Whisky founder Masataka
Taketsuru, who studied whisky-making in Scotland. Masataka later returned to Yoichi, which
he chose for its climate, proximity to the sea, and natural surroundings – so like Scotland, but
10,000 kilometres apart.

Nikka still uses coal-fire pot stills for all its whiskies, a traditional distilling method once
commonplace in Scotland, and ages in oak barrels, creating the smoking character traits
Scottish whisky is famous for.

Winner Takashi Matsumoto said his life has ‘completely changed’ since winning the title.
“Bartending is a unique job, maybe more like a passion,” he said.

“Every night, I meet new guests. To make that time great, I have to make wonderful cocktails. Studying, working hard, and enjoying what I do is very, very important.

“If someday someone remembers me that would be the greatest reward I could hope for.”

Nikka Australian brand ambassador Marcus Parmenter said Takashi’s win is a testament to the refined skills we see at cocktail bars all around the country.

“Takashi is a skilled and refined bartender, and I’m incredibly proud of him for his achievement,” he said.

“Not only did he prove that he has what it takes to win one of the world’s most respected cocktail competitions, he’s proved to the world that Australia has world-class bars and elite bartenders who go above and beyond.”

Takashai Matsumoto, Sydney, Dean and Nancy
Northen Legacy

“Northern Legacy” is a tribute to the journey of Masataka Taketsuru, who studied whisky-making in Scotland and later returned to Japan, where he discovered his spiritual home: Yoichi, a small town in Hokkaido, also my birthplace.

“He chose Yoichi for its climate, water, and natural surroundings, all reminiscent of Scotland. This cocktail honours that connection, using Yoichi whisky, local Yoichi wine, and apple jam, ingredients deeply rooted in the town’s history.

“The wine cordial, made with heather, represents Taketsuru’s Scottish roots, while the apple jam recalls the early days of the distillery, when it was used to produce cider, before the first batches of whisky were ready to sell.”

Northern Legacy

Recipe

• 50ml Yoichi Whisky
• 30ml Yoichi Wine & Heather Cordial
• 2 tsp Yoichi Apple Jam
• 15ml Fresh Lemon Juice
• 20ml Egg White

Garnish

• NIKKA “N” Logo Stencil
• Lavender Bitters (sprayed on top)

Glass

• Apple-shaped cocktail glass

Method

• Add all ingredients to a Boston shaker. Blend first, then shake with ice. Double strain into the glass.

About Nikka Whisky:

Nikka Whisky was founded in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru.

Taketsuru’s journey to Scotland to study the art of whisky-making influenced Nikka’s establishment and approach. Embracing both pot still and column still methods, Nikka crafts a diverse range of distinct and balanced whiskies.

The brand’s dedication to quality and tradition has solidified its global reputation, making Nikka a symbol of Japanese Whisky excellence for nine decades. Inheriting the founder’s spirit of tradition and challenges, Nikka Whisky continues to deliver products that will bring joy and satisfaction to people all over the world.

For more information contact HeadlinePR:

Lisa Gilbert: 0412822673 or lisa@Headlinepr.com.au

In the age of AI, prioritizing the brain can strengthen the human capacities essential for well-being, connection and progress. As AI reshapes work, competitiveness will depend on how effectively human and machine strengths complement one another. Individuals, workforces and societies should explore how to evolve their strategies to harness these shared strengths – otherwise they risk slower growth and diminished opportunity.

This report makes the case for investing in the brain health and brain skills of people of all ages and outlines how companies and countries can place human potential at the centre of economic strategy. It introduces five levers for action and offers a roadmap for stakeholders to build stronger brains and prepare for the future. Through these efforts, there is an opportunity to promote long-term growth and a healthier society by safeguarding brain health, fostering brain skills and studying, investing in and mobilizing brain capital.

• Round 4 of the Clean Energy Future Fund
  open from today
• Individual
  grants available from $100,000 to $4 million
• Program
  supports projects that deliver significant emissions reductions and community
  benefits

The Cook Government
has launched a new round of grants to support innovative clean energy projects
that help to diversify and decarbonise the Western Australian economy.

A total of $9 million is available in Round 4 of the Clean Energy Future
Fund (CEFF) with individual grants ranging from $100,000 to $4 million.

Energy
and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sandersonmade the announcement during a visit to Electric Power
Conversions Australia, a local business that previously received a CEFF grant
to retrofit a diesel mining haul truck to full battery electric.

The Clean
Energy Future Fund supports innovative projects that test and demonstrate new
clean energy technologies in WA and enable wider adoption.

The government
has invested $37 million since the CEFF since it was first launched in 2020.

Priorities for
this round include supporting projects with demonstrated benefits to First Nations
peoples, green exports and local manufacturing, increasing renewable energy
supply and resilience of energy networks, long duration energy storage and
enhancing productivity through electrification.

The Clean
Energy Future Fund is administered by the Department of Water and Environmental
Regulation, with support from Energy Policy WA.

For more
information, visit: www.wa.gov.au/ceff

Comments
attributed to Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:

“Western
Australia is committed to driving innovation in clean energy technologies that
deliver real emissions reductions and community benefits. This fund is helping
local projects turn ideas into action.

“It has supported a variety of
clean energy projects including the electrification of mine haul trucks,
replacement of diesel generators with battery storage, pumped hydroelectric
storage and re-deployable solar power plants.

“Investing in
clean energy is critical to decarbonising our economy and securing WA’s
position as a leader in the transition to net zero.”