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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Friday urged the Trump administration to revoke the newly added $100,000 fee for H-1B visas, warning that the policy would 'hinder economic growth.' In a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the Chamber's chief policy officer Neil Bradley noted that the high visa costs would drive some business functions overseas, causing significant harm to small and medium-sized enterprises and startups. The Chamber also suggested that the government work with Congress to reform the H-1B program rather than unilaterally imposing fees.
Artificial intelligence is helping CFOs and finance teams improve efficiency and productivity, but enterprise-level AI applications hold greater opportunities. KPMG experts point out that unlocking value requires a foundation of trust and accuracy. This article explores the critical role of AI readiness and assurance in reducing risk and driving long-term impact, and introduces the ten pillars of the KPMG Trusted AI framework and the ISO/IEC 42001 standard.
U.S. companies are broadly postponing hiring and investment due to tariffs, inflation, and uncertainty, leaving CFOs caught between cutting costs and stalling growth. This article points out that many companies have 'residual assets' lying dormant on their books—equity related to inactive subsidiaries, predecessor entities, or historical acquisitions—with a global market size exceeding $100 billion, and 7 out of 10 mid-to-large enterprises have at least $1 million in monetization opportunities. Oak Point Partners, as a pioneering buyer in this field, has served over 2,000 companies including Fortune 500 firms, and its technology can identify and acquire these assets with low burden and zero disruption, offering CFOs a liquidity solution that does not sacrifice growth.
Costco CFO Gary Millerchip stated during the fiscal 2025 fourth-quarter earnings call that despite challenges such as tariffs and inflation, the company still regards the $1.50 hot dog combo as a key product, and revealed that capital expenditures for fiscal 2025 were close to $5.5 billion, higher than the same period last year. He expects capital expenditures to continue growing in 2026, while emphasizing that the company has mitigated tariff impacts through various strategies.
U.S. consumer spending rose 0.4% month-over-month in August, matching July's pace, even as inflation stayed above the Fed's 2% target and the unemployment rate climbed to 4.3%. Consumer confidence dipped due to price pressures and job market concerns, but some officials believe the economy remains resilient.
Shoe Carnival announced that former CFO Kerry Jackson will resume the role of company CFO on September 28. Jackson served the company for over 20 years, retired in 2023, and returned in June 2025. This appointment comes as the company accelerates the expansion of its Shoe Station brand, with the CEO calling it a "critical moment."
Cornerstone Research, an economic and financial consulting firm based in San Francisco, reported this week that total corporate 'mega-bankruptcy' filings with assets exceeding $1 billion in the 12 months through June increased by approximately 33% year-over-year to 32 cases, above the annual average of 23 from 2005-2024. The report noted that beyond inflation, high interest rates, and pandemic aftershocks, policy changes and regulatory uncertainty are emerging as new triggers for corporate distress.
The latest quarterly surveys from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and the Federal Reserve Banks of Richmond and Atlanta show that chief financial officers (CFOs) expect tariffs to significantly impact price growth at their organizations in 2025 and 2026. The surveys indicate that without tariffs, price increases would be about 30% lower in 2025 and about 25% lower in 2026. Despite rising overall optimism about the economy, tariff concerns remain real and widespread.
On business media and social platforms, "strategic CFO" has become a buzzword. But financial executives have differing views: some believe the role has always been strategic, while others emphasize that the focus of responsibilities is accelerating toward strategy and leadership. This article gathers perspectives from multiple CFOs and scholars.
Risilience's latest survey finds that about 36% of capital expenditure at major US and European companies is aligned with sustainable development goals, with 95% of companies discussing environmental risks on the board's standing agenda. Despite policy reversals at the US federal level, companies are still advancing decarbonization plans, with 52% having established net-zero roadmaps.