Companies cut costs as rates rose: S&P

U.S. companies with comparatively weak balance sheets trimmed costs less during the first quarter than their counterparts with investment grade ratings, S&P said.

By Jim Tyson • July 21, 2023

One CFO’s stealth IPO market tests

“Bake-offs” and confidential filings can clue executives in on their company’s prospects well ahead of going public, Clearwater Analytics CFO Jim Cox says.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • July 20, 2023

Recession storm clouds growing: Conference Board

A downturn will probably extend from the current quarter to the first quarter of next year, the Conference Board predicted.

By Jim Tyson • July 20, 2023

FedNow goes live for banks, credit unions

The Fed’s long-awaited instant payments system is arriving right on time this month, giving consumers and businesses a new route for speedier transactions.

By Lynne Marek • July 20, 2023

Fed’s final inflation fight ‘will be tough’: Fannie Mae

The likelihood of a “soft landing” for the economy, or a slowing of inflation without triggering recession, has increased recently, Fannie Mae said.

By Jim Tyson • July 19, 2023

SEC takes climate rule criticism ‘very seriously’: top official

GOP lawmakers on Tuesday accused an SEC division director of undermining capitalism by pushing for a climate risk disclosure rule.

By Jim Tyson • July 18, 2023

FedEx picks transportation industry veteran for CFO

Just under a month after announcing CFO Michael Lenz was retiring, FedEx appointed air cargo industry veteran John W. Dietrich as its new finance chief. 

By Maura Webber Sadovi • July 18, 2023

Finance function budgets jump 7.5%: study

The majoriy of finance departments studied were about as efficient as a “monster truck,” a Hackett Group researcher said. There are steps companies can take to make them run more like Priuses.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • July 14, 2023

$6.2B accounting flub at Pentagon draws GOP fire

Republicans criticized the Pentagon in the run-up to House passage on Friday of the $866 billion National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2024.

By Jim Tyson • July 14, 2023

Healthcare bankruptcies jump as crypto ‘calms down’

Labor costs and a fall-off in government aid are factors cited behind healthcare industry distress. Meanwhile, bankruptcy experts said a commercial real estate “bubble” looms.  

By Maura Webber Sadovi • July 14, 2023

Fed touts FedNow’s fraud tools

Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester spelled out some of the tools that the new instant payments system will have for thwarting fraud during a speech this week.

By Lynne Marek • July 13, 2023

Shareholder activism surges in 2023: Freshfields

Republican lawmakers are pushing back against ESG activism, saying they are defending the interests of Main Street investors.

By Jim Tyson • July 13, 2023

Brainard calls for executive accountability on rate risks and price spirals

 “It will be important for corporations to continue to bring their markups back down after having raised them to unusually elevated levels over the past two years,” the former Fed vice chair said.

By Suman Bhattacharyya • July 12, 2023

Slowing inflation unlikely to avert Fed rate hike

Traders in interest rate futures see 95% odds that the central bank will increase the federal funds rate by a quarter percentage point on July 26.

By Jim Tyson • July 12, 2023

Economy struggling in ‘slowcession’: Moody’s

A sudden spike in oil prices poses the biggest threat to U.S. economic growth, Moody’s Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi said.

By Jim Tyson • July 11, 2023

Economic optimism grows as inflation worries ease: McKinsey

Business executives worldwide see growing risks from income inequality and shifts in political leadership, McKinsey said.

By Jim Tyson • July 10, 2023

US IPOs rise in H1 but lag 2021 boom: EY

Initial public offerings may recover during the second half of this year amid slowing inflation, falling commodity prices and renewed stability in the U.S. banking system, EY said.

By Jim Tyson • July 7, 2023

Paysend’s Biondo banks on $30M media-for-equity deal

The concept of trading ownership stakes for media time may appeal to more firms as marketing spending faces sharper scrutiny.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • July 7, 2023

M&A plunges 37% during first half of 2023: WTW

Buyers facing tight credit and high interest rates will subject potential acquisitions to intense scrutiny in coming months, WTW said.

By Jim Tyson • July 6, 2023

Trackable ads trump swag as budgets tighten

Marketing spending is facing higher scrutiny as CFOs push trackable advertising over broad brand campaigns.

By Suman Bhattacharyya • July 6, 2023

Some Fed officials favored hiking rates in June

In order to curb inflation, the central bank may need to maintain high borrowing costs longer than predicted by financial markets, Kansas City Fed economists said. 

By Jim Tyson • July 5, 2023

CFOs shouldn’t let high rates hold them back

A capital project that automates a business can yield a positive discounted investment return, Bill Fink asserts. When rates do come down, CFOs can refinance the debt.

By Bill Fink • July 5, 2023

Sustainability can boost bottom line: Brand Finance

Companies that fail to live up to consumers’ perceptions of their ESG performance put hundreds of millions in value at risk, according to Brand Finance.

By Jim Tyson • June 30, 2023

FASB tees up loan loss fix

The FASB is poised to tweak existing accounting standards which originally sought to address calls for timelier loss reporting after the 2008 financial crisis.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • June 29, 2023

CFOs trim growth estimates amid credit squeeze: Fed

The extent of credit tightening triggered by turmoil in the banking system in March is unclear, according to the Federal Reserve.

By Jim Tyson • June 29, 2023