CFO optimism rises on outlook for 2024 economy: Fed

Financial executives expect solid business performance in 2024, forecasting on average 5% revenue growth and a 2.7% expansion in payrolls.

By Jim Tyson • Jan. 2, 2024

First American Financial confirms threat actors stole and encrypted data

The title insurance giant said the cyberattack is contained, but it is still working to determine whether the incident will have a material impact.

By David Jones • Jan. 2, 2024

2024 is ‘all about the Fed,’ U.S. Bank exec says

With 2023 drawing to a close, all eyes are remaining on the Federal Reserve and its inflation strategies for 2024, U.S. Bank’s Stephen Philipson said.

By Grace Noto • Dec. 21, 2023

IPOs rise on prospect of Fed interest rate cuts: EY

High-profile IPOs in September by companies including Arm Holdings and Instacart renewed C-suite and investor interest in the market.

By Jim Tyson • Dec. 19, 2023

Firms advised to prepare for tough enforcement of SEC cyber rules

Effective Monday, public companies other than small reporting businesses will now be required to comply with the SEC’s new breach disclosure mandates. 

By Alexei Alexis • Dec. 19, 2023

AI’s quest to transform corporate finance meets hurdles

While finance leaders widely view artificial intelligence as a game-changer, some are nervous about the risks of adoption, according to a OneStream poll.

By Alexei Alexis • Dec. 19, 2023

US regulators flag commercial real estate as a leading risk in 2024

“Signs of stress emerged in 2023, and the market outlook is challenging” for commercial real estate, according to the Financial Stability Oversight Council.

By Jim Tyson • Dec. 18, 2023

Kraft Heinz probes ransomware attack claim

The food and beverage company attributed the potential attack to a decommissioned marketing site and said internal systems are operating normally.

By Matt Kapko • Dec. 15, 2023

Small businesses limp toward 2024 with gloomier outlook, surveys show

Confidence among CEOs and economists in the prospects for the economy is not shared by small businesses.

By Jim Tyson • Dec. 14, 2023

3 tips for SEC cyber rule stragglers

With breach reporting enforcement set to begin in just days, stragglers should be treating readiness as a “super-high priority,” says Deloitte’s Daniel Soo.

By Alexei Alexis • Dec. 14, 2023

Fed holds main rate steady, signals deeper cuts to borrowing costs in 2024

Policymakers paused monetary tightening for the third consecutive meeting as traders in interest rate futures bet the Fed will begin easing in the spring.

By Jim Tyson • Dec. 13, 2023

Core inflation edges up, spotlighting Fed’s bumpy path to stable prices

Traders in interest rate futures shook off the core CPI data, predicting that the Fed will leave the main interest rate unchanged on Wednesday after a two-day meeting.

By Jim Tyson • Dec. 12, 2023

Cybersecurity pressures stretch CFOs

CFOs are bracing for new SEC cybersecurity rules set to kick in this month as the regulator is already signaling an aggressive enforcement posture.

By Alexei Alexis • Dec. 12, 2023

SEC busts pre-IPO fraud scheme that bilked 4,000 investors worldwide

Swindlers made their false pitch of no upfront fees in podcasts and videos on Facebook, LinkedIn and other social media platforms, the SEC said.

By Jim Tyson • Dec. 11, 2023

Most accountants back AI, viewing it as productivity boost: Moss Adams

Accountants also flagged several potential downsides from rapid AI adoption, including poor work quality, flawed data and undetected bias.

By Jim Tyson • Dec. 8, 2023

Talent tops 2024 CFO risks: Protiviti

Risks relating to talent shortages, inflation and generative AI remain top of mind for finance chiefs as they look forward to 2024, Protiviti’s survey found.

By Grace Noto • Dec. 8, 2023

SEC approves new PCAOB audit confirmation standards targeting fraud

Since early 2021, SEC Chair Gary Gensler has called on the PCAOB to more aggressively oversee the accounting firms that audit publicly listed companies.

By Jim Tyson • Dec. 7, 2023

Auditors say accountant shortage ramps up work pressure: CAQ

A decline in the pool for accounting talent has prompted many U.S. companies to raise pay and provide greater workplace flexibility.

By Jim Tyson • Dec. 6, 2023

Most economists put odds of recession at 50% or less: NABE

A report Tuesday of declining job vacancies bolstered optimism that the labor market will cool without pushing up unemployment much beyond the 3.9% level in October.

By Jim Tyson • Dec. 5, 2023

PayPal venture arm backs Israeli data privacy startup

The funding boost comes as data privacy management startup Mine seeks to increase its hiring in the U.S.

By Alexei Alexis • Dec. 5, 2023

Payments processor Tipalti investigating ransomware attack

The Alphv ransomware group claimed responsibility for the attack on Saturday and threatened to extort Tipalti customers with allegedly stolen data.

By Matt Kapko • Dec. 4, 2023

Powell does not rule out Fed rate hike even while noting slower inflation

The Fed chief suggested that borrowing costs will remain high for the foreseeable future despite recent signs that inflation, hiring and economic growth are slowing.

By Jim Tyson • Dec. 1, 2023

Retailers have a crime problem. It’s in the numbers.

The issue is complex and often clouded by imprecise data — sometimes from the industry itself.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 1, 2023

Inflation, consumer spending cool, validating pause in Fed rate hikes

Fed officials have recently noted progress in curbing price pressures but cautioned against expectations of sustained disinflation or an imminent cut to borrowing costs.

By Jim Tyson • Nov. 30, 2023

Insurers hit with attorneys’ fees after trying to get out of indemnifying policyholders

A New York Supreme Court ruling creates precedent in the way it makes the loser in an insurance matter pay its client.

By Robert Freedman • Nov. 30, 2023