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Reviewing the Q2 International Business Report (IBR[1]) results, I was pleased to see some good news for construction & real estate companies: Profitability expectations around the world are up. However, my optimism is tempered somewhat by recent news from China and it will be interesting to see how businesses react in Q3.

The issue of transfer pricing has hit the headlines in the UK and the US over recent weeks due to the relatively low level of corporation tax multinationals such as Amazon, Apple, Google and Starbucks.

Dynamic organisations need to apply both reason and instinct when making business decisions is the cornerstone of our 2012 advertising campaign.

Stanley Chang discusses China's economic outlook

The brightening outlook for Spain. Rising exports amongst reasons to be optimistic

At a time when China and the EU are arguing over solar panel subsidies and shale gas has revolutionised the US – and perhaps soon the global – energy market, I was encouraged to see the general optimism amongst cleantech businesses in the Q2 update from our International Business Report (IBR).

This time last week I was interviewed by Bloomberg and CNBC to discuss a divergence in business optimism between China and the US revealed by our Q2 International Business Report (IBR). The results were surprising: Chinese business optimism is at an all-time low whilst their US peers are more optimistic than at any time since 2005.

Changing corrupt cultures in India and Brazil

Dealing with corrupt practices in Brazil and India.

Grant Thornton understands that multinational tax challenges are among the most complex and expensive issues facing companies with international operations. And expatriate tax issues are a key consideration for companies working across borders.

Doing business in Peru an interview with José Luis Sarrio.

The US is the largest economy in the world and home to approximately 320 million people. Growth rates remain steady, albeit below pre-crisis levels, and job creation has been strong. Congressional dysfunction, particularly around tax reform is a major concern for business leaders while the strong dollar is weighing on exports. Below is our advice about expanding into the US and its ranking in the Global Dynamism Index 2015.

Last week, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) released their annual World of Work report. It contains some stark warnings, particularly for mature economies where it does not expect employment levels to return to pre-crisis levels before 2017. Getting people back into work, the report says, will be a “major global challenge” for years to come and the threat of “social unrest” a major risk.

Advanced Pricing Agreements (APAs) are helping to alleviate the risk of double taxation. In turn, Mutual Agreement Procedures (MAPs) may offer a smoother path to conflict resolution. But neither is a panacea.

Writing our recently released Future of Europe report, the thing that stood out to me most was the divergence of business opinion on how to handle the eurozone crisis. And not just between the 17 euro ‘ins’ and the 10 euro ‘outs’ – which you might expect – but a split right at the heart of Europe.

I was interviewed on Wednesday morning by Bloomberg and BBC World, discussing our latest IBR results which reveal that the vast majority of business leaders would welcome more guidance on tax planning, even if this reduced their opportunities to cut cross-border tax liabilities.