Money

Put the Money where mouth is.

... increasing confidence about...

But are they turning words into action by investing more?

The latest figures for listed companies suggest that in the first two months after... they were still cautious.

Excluding...sort

In the fourth quarter of 2016

2% less than a year earlier

If bosses were expecting an upsurge in vestment, they would set aside more cash for future outlays, rather than return it to shareholders.

A 10% decline compared with a year earlier but 26 % increase compared with the quarter before..

All this suggests that change in capital allocation policy by boards hasn't been swift. Perhaps this year s stock market surge s will persuade leaders to start making bets on their stated beliefs.

Listed company

Cautious

Upsurge

Set aside

Outlay

Blow money

Allocation

Swift

Surge

Make bets on

Economy is tricky

If you stay in the game

You are in good position for the upswing

If you are not in the game

You can't win.