Inflation exceeds forecasts, affirming Fed’s caution on initial rate cut

Futures trading suggested that the odds that policymakers will cut the main interest rate by at least a quarter point on May 1 have plunged to 11% from 52% a month ago.

By Jim Tyson • March 12, 2024

New SEC cyber rules draw ‘question-begging’ breach disclosures

Filers may be opening the door to investor confusion by reporting breaches that don’t appear to be “material” as described, without explaining why they’re doing so.

By Alexei Alexis • March 12, 2024

AI deepfakes targeted in Biden’s State of the Union speech

The president’s remarks come amid growing concerns about the potential use of deepfakes to wreak havoc in elections or perpetrate fraud against businesses.

By Alexei Alexis • March 12, 2024

CEO confidence, capital spending plans rise: Business Roundtable

Like CEOs, economists at large companies have grown more optimistic and foresee stepped up spending on business fixed investment this year, Wolters Kluwer said.

By Jim Tyson • March 11, 2024

Visa spends ‘billions’ battling cybersecurity threats

“We are all in an arms race to protect this ecosystem, to protect the network,” Visa CEO Ryan McInerney said at an investor conference last week.

By Lynne Marek • March 11, 2024

Regional bank execs push back on CRE risk fears

Regional banks are working to manage exposure to the office sector, but executives say they will skirt a regional banking crisis.

By Suman Bhattacharyya • March 8, 2024

Powell assailed by Democrats calling on Fed to cut rates from 23-year high

The Fed chair said that policymakers will likely begin trimming borrowing costs sometime this year if data show that inflation is steadily falling.

By Jim Tyson • March 7, 2024

Powell predicts commercial real estate woes will most afflict smaller banks

The Fed, bankers and commercial real estate executives have warned of turbulence as property owners struggle to refinance debt at higher rates.

By Jim Tyson • March 6, 2024

Gender diversity on boards correlates with high credit quality: Moody’s

Investors seek greater gender and racial diversity on corporate boards, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

By Jim Tyson • March 5, 2024

Tech startup Slice raises $7M for equity compensation platform

The funding will help the startup to further develop the platform while expanding its geographic reach, according to CEO Maor Levran.

By Alexei Alexis • March 5, 2024

93% of firms use a mix of ESG standards, thwarting uniformity efforts: IFAC

The spotlight on confusion from a jumble of ESG frameworks comes just days before a vote on an SEC rule aimed at ensuring uniformity in climate disclosure.

By Jim Tyson • March 4, 2024

Fed’s key inflation measure rose in January, validating high-rate hold

Policymakers have refrained from declaring sufficient progress in their fight against inflation, pushing back by several months market expectations for a rate cut.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 29, 2024

Consumer confidence falls, breaking three-month rising streak

Spending by consumers is showing signs of sputtering after propelling better-than-expected economic growth last year.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 27, 2024

SaaS license waste tops IT spend challenges

Hasty software purchasing during the pandemic led to bloated tech stacks that are now ripe for trimming.  

By Alexei Alexis • Feb. 27, 2024

CFOs take backseat to CISOs on SEC cyber rules

Less than half of finance chiefs are involved in the SEC's cybersecurity breach disclosure process, AuditBoard found.

By Alexei Alexis • Feb. 27, 2024

Economists predict 2.2% GDP growth, outstripping prior 2024 forecast: NABE

Data on the job market, and consumer and producer prices, suggest the Fed may need to keep the main interest rate at a 40-year high longer than markets anticipated.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 26, 2024

MGM Resorts’ cyberattack headache continues as regulators launch investigations

The company said it could face fines in connection with regulatory inquiries stemming from the social engineering attack.

By David Jones • Feb. 26, 2024

SEC charges husband for insider trading on wife’s deal-making for BP

A Houston resident overheard merger negotiations by his wife, a former BP employee, and engaged in insider trading, the SEC alleged.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 23, 2024

M&A to rise, buoyed by ready cash, solid profits, stable economy: McKinsey

CFOs will sooner reach strategic goals through deal-making than through organic growth, McKinsey said.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 20, 2024

Investors rank securing talent as top corporate priority in 2024: EY

Corporate directors and investors differ when identifying the biggest issues this year, with directors focusing more on the economy and capital allocation, EY said. 

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 16, 2024

Boeing CFO expects 2H24 production resurgence, cites ‘uncertain moment’

The aerospace company is grappling with the implications of last month’s midair door plug blowout that shocked travelers and sparked an FAA audit.

By Suman Bhattacharyya • Feb. 15, 2024

Ex-Zoom finance exec lands at fraud detector Forter

Forter’s new CFO, Anthony Barsoom, is replacing Aaron Barfoot, who exited to become finance chief of a rival company.

By Alexei Alexis • Feb. 15, 2024

Inflation edges up, pushing back forecast of first Fed rate cut

Futures traders now see a 52% probability that policymakers in June will cut the federal funds rate from its current peak level between 5.25% and 5.5%.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 13, 2024

CEO optimism hits two-year high as inflation cools: Conference Board

More than one out of three top executives believe the economic outlook will brighten during the next six months, according to a Conference Board and Business Council survey.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 9, 2024

R&D tax rollback proposal leaves CFOs ‘on edge’

Many businesses applauded when a tax package with the key R&D provision sailed through the U.S. House. Now they’re waiting for the Senate to act.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • Feb. 8, 2024