Inflation outlook hinges on future wage growth: Summers

History suggests that with inflation and unemployment at current levels, the U.S. may be headed toward a recession, former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers said.

By Jim Tyson • May 31, 2022

Bank of America boosts minimum wage to $22 per hour

The pay raise comes as financial executives across industries are strategizing over how to hold on to employees in one of the tightest labor markets in decades. 

By Robin Bradley • May 25, 2022

Proposed rule could push more family offices to lawyer up

The proposal comes amid increased scrutiny of family offices in the wake of the Archegos Capital Management meltdown.

By Ted Knutson • May 24, 2022

SoftBank CFO advises automation over bloated finance teams

Leaning on automation can help companies free up key resources and keep team sizes small, allowing CFOs to think more strategically about periods of accelerating growth, says Navneet Govil, CFO of SoftBank Investment Advisers.

By Grace Noto • May 23, 2022

Just 30% of CFO-CIO relationships are 'collegial': Gartner

More collaborative partnerships likely yields better digital outcomes because the CFO and CIO “tend to act like members of the same team instead of creating decision-making friction," the survey report states. 

By Maura Webber Sadovi • May 19, 2022

Fed's Powell welcomes 'significant' tightening in financial markets

Powell underscored the Fed’s determination to reduce inflation, just one of many items on a long roster of risks bedeviling CFOs.

By Jim Tyson • May 17, 2022

SEC enforcement attorney predicts 'a lot more fraud' in crypto markets

The SEC will turn to litigation if needed to achieve “clarity” as it fights abuses in cryptocurrency markets, according to an attorney in the agency’s Enforcement Division.

By Jim Tyson • May 16, 2022

U.S. regulators see 'endgame' to LIBOR phaseout

Winding down LIBOR has reached the final stage as businesses increasingly borrow using an alternative reference rate, U.S. regulators said.

By Jim Tyson • May 12, 2022

Inflation pounds small business optimism to 48-year low

While the NFIB said price pressures have eroded optimism, the Federal Reserve warned that rising interest rates may complicate efforts by companies to pay off debt.

By Jim Tyson • May 10, 2022

M&A success depends on 'Announcement Day' credibility

Rising prices, higher borrowing costs, stock market volatility and other headwinds have slowed deal-making this year. CFOs considering M&A would do well to consider lessons from more than two decades of transactions, according to authors of a recently published book.

By Jim Tyson • May 9, 2022

Fed probably needs to curb GDP growth to 1% to quell inflation: Moody's

CFOs navigating an unusual array of profit threats — from supply chain disruptions to the possibility of a new COVID-19 variant — may need to add stagflation to their roster of risks.

By Jim Tyson • May 2, 2022

FASB explores single consolidation model

“We can bring some order to this area where I think we’re hearing very clearly that order is needed,” said Richard Jones, FASB chair.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • April 29, 2022

Asset-backed securitizations drop on widening spreads

As rates and other indices rise, investors hold out for higher yields, making it hard for companies to get pricing that makes sense for them.  

By Robert Freedman • April 21, 2022

Fed will 'expeditiously' combat inflation, Brainard says

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, COVID-19 lockdowns in China and the unpredictability of the pandemic have thrust the U.S. economy into a time of “very high uncertainty,” Lael Brainard said.

By Jim Tyson • April 12, 2022

FTC orders fixes at Dun & Bradstreet, citing report errors

Dun & Bradstreet must overhaul how it gathers credit information and provide refunds to subscribers of its CreditBuilder product, the FTC said. 

By Jim Tyson • April 8, 2022

Goodwill impairment expected to rise, reverse course in 2022: Kroll

The anticipated increase in goodwill impairment this year comes after the pandemic and the subsequent economic recovery whipsawed levels in recent years, according to Kroll data. 

By Maura Webber Sadovi • April 6, 2022

IPOs in Americas plummet 72% during first quarter: EY

High inflation, stock market turbulence and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted a slump in initial public offerings during the first quarter.

By Jim Tyson • April 5, 2022

CFO scenario planning is key as Biden pushes 28% corporate tax rate

“The advice we’re giving people is to watch what the Build Back Better morphs into in 2022 and see if there’s momentum to push through those tax changes,” said PwC's Ken Kuykendall. 

By Maura Webber Sadovi • March 31, 2022

Surging inflation compelling small businesses to raise prices

Inflation is broad based – flaring in every sector – and will probably persist longer than initially expected, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said.

By Jim Tyson • March 29, 2022

Juicier 100% meals tax deduction may nudge CFOs back to expense reports

The temporary hike in the tax deduction companies can take on eligible business meal expenses could be a welcome bright spot for CFOs bracing for rising costs from road warriors returning to in-person meetings, experts say. 

By Maura Webber Sadovi • March 29, 2022

Regulation, weak economy pose obstacles to SPACs: Deloitte

After booming last year, the SPAC market has fizzled so far in 2022, with the number and average value of deals falling.

By Jim Tyson • March 16, 2022

CFOs hold pay raises far below inflation despite war for talent

CFOs are spurring resignations by letting inflation far outpace wage gains. They can take steps to improve employee retention even as prices increase at the highest rate in four decades.

By Jim Tyson • March 11, 2022

Senators introduce bipartisan bill to avert LIBOR turmoil

The Senate and U.S. House are nearing alignment on legislation that would head off instability from financial contracts that fail to identify a new reference rate after LIBOR sunsets in 2023.

By Jim Tyson • March 7, 2022

Fed stimulus pullback on track despite Russian invasion, Powell says

The Federal Reserve will likely begin raising the main interest rate from a record low this month while mindful of the need to “add to financial stability, not to create uncertainty,” Fed Chair Jerome Powell said.

By Jim Tyson • March 2, 2022

First-time biotech CFO strategizes for future with or without big pharma

Aristea Therapeutics' CFO Justin Thacker says the company has a $100 million cash runway that will take it into 2024. 

By Maura Webber Sadovi • Feb. 23, 2022