Corporate outlook dims

 Corporate outlook dims

ACCOUNTANTS - Corporate optimism in the economy hit rock-bottom in Canada's four largest provinces in the fourth quarter of 2008, according to a business monitor report released Monday by the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Royal Bank of Canada.

The report, based on responses from more than 400 chartered accountants in senior positions, found only 23 per cent of executive CAs expressed optimism about their companies' 12-month prospects, compared to 57 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2007.