Many more entrepreneurs in Europe and the US are optimistic than pessimistic about the year ahead, a survey suggests.

一项调查显示，欧洲和美国更多的企业家对2012年的经济前景持乐观态度。

Almost half of respondents were optimistic compared with a quarter that were pessimistic, Hiscox said.

However, there was a "significant fall" in optimism compared with a similar survey conducted in February 2010.

Almost half of those surveyed in Europe said the debt crisis had affected¹ them.

The survey also suggested many entrepreneurs in Europe questioned the value of the European Union (EU).

More than 40% of respondents said the EU was not helpful to their business, while 20% said it was.

Despite pressures on banks, almost three-quarters of respondents said their relationship with their bank was unchanged.

The survey was carried out for insurer Hiscox among 3,000 small and medium-sized companies in the US, the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain.

Recent surveys in the UK and Germany have suggested business confidence is falling, partly due to the continuing debt crisis that EU leaders have so far been unable to resolve.