"China is the largest automotive market in the world and we think it could be twice the size of the U.S. by 2025."
Global Economy
“The external environment has been quite volatile. Policy matters have been unpredictable.”
Bob Shanks, CFO, Ford Motor Co
Technology
"We've really continued to look carefully at what's the impact of the two biggest secular trends for people under the age of 30 or 35. One of them is gaming, and you know we've repositioned a lot of our business around gaming. And the second one is the fact that so many young people especially, but even old people like me are video blogging and streaming."
Bracken Darrell, CEO, Logitech International
"Well, video [streaming] remains a very competitive area. And I really don't think it's going to change anytime soon."
David Watson, CEO, Comcast Cable Corp
Energy
"In the last three years we're looking at a 400 per cent increase in gas costs........Because we are competing against imported products, for a lot of our customers it's difficult to absorb any price increase."
Adam Hope, General Manager, Remapak [Australia's last producer of polystyrene coffee cups now in administration]
“[Electricity] Price reductions have been delayed by at least 12 months, if not 18 months. It’s due to the high cost of gas and the rally in coal prices, which have been really strong, as well as a number of renewable projects which were slated to come to market but have been delayed.”
Jeff Dimery, CEO, Alinta
"North America is now the world's top oil producer and exerts considerable influence on commodity pricing."
Jeff Miller, CEO, Halliburton Company
"Over the course of 2019, [oil drilling] activity should improve across all international regions, although off a low base in some geographies like Asia Pacific and Africa."
Jeff Miller, CEO, Halliburton Company
Agriculture
"All major registration agencies around the world have re-confirmed the safety status of glyphosate and farmers around the world tell us that glyphosate is an indispensable product for them to manage their farm operations.”
Werner Baumann, CEO, Bayer
“These figures demonstrate strong international demand and they highlight how Australian wine exporters have worked diligently to develop and maintain international markets.”
Andreas Clark, CEO, Wine Australia [commenting on Australian wine export sales growing by 10% last year to $2.82bn]
Retail
"If we have no deal, if we exited the EU with no deal in place, then we would be subject to world trade tariffs, which would increase the duty we pay on an annual basis by tens of millions."
Julie Brown, CFO, Burberry Group
"The view of U.S. housing and the automotive space for production feels like there's still growth there, but it's slowing."
Donald Allen, CFO, Stanley Black & Decker Inc
Finance
"From a credit perspective we expect lending write-off rates and delinquencies to remain below the industry average."
Jeff Campbell, CFO, American Express Co
"The market backdrop we saw in November and December has been replaced by a clearly more constructive tone."
Jonathan Pruzan, CFO, Morgan Stanley
Media
“When you put a price tag on something, that must mean you have confidence in the product.”
Pamela Drucker Mann, Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer, Condé Nast [on putting all Condé Nast titles behind a paywall by the end of the year]
Recycling
“The first half has been challenging for all recycling companies globally and will continue to be so for the near future."
Alistair Field, CEO and Managing Director, Sims Metal Management
Construction
"The anticipated earnings in FY19, compared to the prior year, reflects substantial investment in the business in readiness for domestic and international growth, as well as the timing of major projects which are yet to commence."
Cameron Coleman, CEO, Wagners