Asked specifically for a reaction to the U.S. government's decision to release oil from its reserves, 46% of U.S. CFOs were against the decision, while 31% supported it, and the rest were undecided.

Security breaches at major multi-national firms, so much in the news this year, seem responsible for 61% of U.S. CFOs now allocating more funds to data security. (It was 55% for European CFOs.) The increase, among U.S. CFOs expecting to pay more was 18%.

"In this day and age, companies are becoming increasingly aware of the frequency of security breaches and are more cautious about the dangers and potential financial ramifications of their own data systems being breached," according to Marie Hollein, CEO of Financial Executives International. "While budgetary restraints may not allow some companies to invest in sufficient protection systems, it is clear that companies are beginning to think about it."