BRITISH bosses are bucking the European trend by remaining upbeat in the wake of the September 11 attacks, new research shows.

According to a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers, 45 per cent of senior executives in mainland Europe downgraded financial projections after the atrocities, but in the UK, only 34 per cent of bosses cut forecasts.

British executives are also trying to maintain "business as usual", with just 15 per cent placing restrictions on international travel by employees - on the Continent, the figure is 44 per cent.

Kieran Poynter, senior partner at PwC UK, said: "Businesses across Europe have clearly been significantly affected by the tragic events of September 11.

"But the UK economy appears more resilient than any of the other large European economies."

Since the attacks, 15 per cent of UK respondents and 19 per cent in mainland Europe said they had cut jobs, although PwC said that could also have been in response to economic conditions before September 11.

PwC surveyed 159 firms in nine European countries, including the UK, Germany, France and Sweden.

British executives were in agreement with their continental counterparts, in some cases, particularly when it came to longer-term consequences.

Similar percentages thought the attacks would cause continuing stagnation of the global economy, while 33 per cent in the UK and 37 per cent in mainland Europe predicted a reduction in overSimilar percentages thought the attacks would cause continuing stagnation of the global economy, while 33 per cent in the UK and 37 per cent in mainland Europe predicted a reduction in over