Global business confidence is down to a five-year low, as hiring and investment plans fell in a study of 6,100 companies by the Markit Global Business Outlook Survey.

"Clouds are gathering over the global economic outlook, presenting the darkest picture seen since the global financial crisis," said Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit in a statement.

The pessimism has arisen over a variety of factors in the global economy, including fears of a second global clash, a rise in interest rates and a lack of progress in the emerging market economies.