High levels of sovereign debt and a weak global economy remain the biggest worries for the financial markets, according to a poll of nearly 70 senior industry figures conducted by Financial News.

Europe's top executives were asked what is keeping them awake at night at the turn of the year. More than a third of respondents cited the high level of indebtedness among developed countries, the attempts by government to reduce fiscal deficits while managing public backlashes against austerity measures and the threats of rising inflation and interest rates.