U.S. 'AAA' rating may face pressure from debt limit brinkmanship: Fitch

The partisan impasse over raising the debt ceiling showed no signs of easing on Monday as Fitch Ratings warned of pressure on the U.S. credit rating.

By Jim Tyson • Oct. 4, 2021

IPOs, mergers surge as dealmakers ride post-lockdown rebound

Executives considering IPOs should act without delay and take advantage of favorable and vulnerable market conditions, EY said.

By Jim Tyson • Sept. 30, 2021

Labor shortages may prolong inflation

The Federal Reserve may underestimate the impact of widespread labor shortages on inflation, central bankers say.

By Jim Tyson • Sept. 29, 2021

Yellen warns of 'enormous' harm from U.S. debt default

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Congress the U.S. will be unable to pay its bills on Oct. 18 unless lawmakers increase the federal debt limit.

By Jim Tyson • Sept. 28, 2021

Business forecasters see inflation heating up to 5.1%

Rapid price gains will persist through 2021 but slow next year in line with Federal Reserve projections, according to a panel of economists.

By Jim Tyson • Sept. 27, 2021

Secure credit relationship before easy money goes away

If inflation persists, companies with limited financing options could find doors closed if they put off lender outreach, loan specialist says. 

By Robert Freedman • Sept. 27, 2021

Corporate borrowing costs would soar in U.S. debt default: Moody's

Partisan wrangling over the debt ceiling in coming days will probably slow investment, hiring and lending, according to Moody’s Analytics.

By Jim Tyson • Sept. 22, 2021

Gensler warns no extension coming to LIBOR's end on Dec. 31

Some institutions will wait until the last minute to switch from LIBOR to a new reference rate, SEC Chair Gary Gensler predicted, leading to some “choppy” trading toward the end of 2021.

By Jim Tyson • Sept. 21, 2021

Inflation worries loom large during company earnings calls

CFOs face persistent challenges from inflation as Federal Reserve policy-makers meet to discuss the future for record stimulus.

By Jim Tyson • Sept. 20, 2021

Corporate credit rebounds from record slump: Fitch

Conservative financial decisions, along with record monetary and fiscal stimulus, have brightened many companies' credit outlook, the rating agency said.

By Jim Tyson • Sept. 17, 2021

Gensler backs tougher disclosure rules for SPACs

The SEC chair is concerned that investors are bearing the cost of dilution built into the SPAC structure, and in effect subsidizing the companies they bring public.

By Jim Tyson • Sept. 9, 2021

Biden plan to close 'tax gap' overstates payoff: CBO estimate

CBO analysis suggests the Biden administration may be exaggerating the gains from its plan to boost the IRS budget to thwart corporate and individual tax cheats.

By Jim Tyson • Sept. 7, 2021

SPAC IPOs plunged 87% during Q2 amid tougher SEC scrutiny

The SPAC market falters as regulators raise concerns about spotty disclosures and weak investor protections. New litigation has also raised questions. 

By Jim Tyson • Sept. 2, 2021

SEC panel weighs stricter SPAC disclosures, citing conflicts of interest

An SEC advisory committee says SPACs benefit sponsors and target companies while putting investors at risk.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 27, 2021

Business economists, citing inflation, say Fed policy is too stimulative: NABE

Despite Fed assurances, inflation persists as a core concern of business economists, and most NABE survey respondents favor tighter monetary policy by the end of next year.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 24, 2021

SOFR gains but still has far to go as LIBOR replacement: analysts

The availability of a forward-looking term rate for the Fed’s preferred LIBOR replacement will boost acceptance, but the LIBOR phase-out still has far to go.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 18, 2021

Crypto challenges shine light on CFOs' fiat currency management

Finance leaders have reason to avoid the volatility of alt coins but their lack of visibility into currency exposure could be leaving them vulnerable to a similar risk with some fiat currencies.

By Bob Stark • Aug. 18, 2021

Fintechs handled higher rate of suspicious PPP loans: study

Fintech and traditional lenders both started the program with suspicious loan rates of around 10%, but fintechs' suspicious loan rates grew to 40% when PPP ended, University of Texas, Austin, researchers found.

By Anna Hrushka • Aug. 17, 2021

Nasdaq diversity rule is 'credit positive' for companies: Moody's

Nasdaq will likely improve the credit outlook for its listed companies with a diversity standard that will increase disclosure and enable investors to more accurately compare companies, Moody’s Investors Service said.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 12, 2021

FTC unable to keep up with 'surge' in merger filings

The Federal Trade Commission said it “has been hit by a tidal wave of merger filings” and can’t complete reviews within the statutory period.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 4, 2021

Fed risks letting 'inflation genie' out of bottle: CRS

The Federal Reserve may wait too long and attempt to slow inflation after it “has become embedded in people’s expectations,” the Congressional Research Service said.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 3, 2021

SEC may require climate risk disclosures in expanded 10-Ks: Gensler

SEC Chair Gary Gensler says a company, when filing mandatory climate risk disclosures, may need to measure carbon emissions across its “value chain.”

By Jim Tyson • July 28, 2021

Companies flush with capitalization options

A heady environment for both public and private investment is on track to continue, according to a KPMG analysis.

By Robert Freedman • July 22, 2021

Companies plan bigger pay raises in 2022, survey finds

"The war for talent is pretty significant," says Adrienne Altman of Willis Towers Watson, whose survey shows companies plan to raise pay next year more than in 2021.  

By Jim Tyson • July 20, 2021

SPAC deals will rebound for remainder of 2021: EY

After a second-quarter slump, the SPAC market will rebound in the second half of 2021 as deal-makers adjust to tougher regulatory scrutiny, EY said.

By Jim Tyson • July 19, 2021