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A report released Wednesday by the ITRC indicates that 81% of U.S. small businesses experienced a cybersecurity or data breach incident in the past year, with over half of victims suffering losses between $250,000 and $1 million, and nearly four in ten forced to raise prices. The report states that rising cybersecurity costs and financial damages from data breaches are forming a hidden 'cyber tax' directly passed on to consumers.
Exxon Mobil announced in a securities filing that Chief Financial Officer Kathryn Mikells will retire on February 1, 2026, due to health issues, and will be succeeded by Neil Hansen, the company's president of global business solutions. Mikells has held the position since 2021 and will assist with the transition before retiring and attend the fourth-quarter earnings call.
Costco sued the Trump administration last month, seeking a declaration that tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 are illegal and a full refund of taxes paid, sparking anxiety among the business community to follow suit. Doreen M. Edelman, a partner at Lowenstein Sandler, noted that litigation is just one of several strategies to protect refund rights, and companies should prioritize the timing of goods liquidation before deciding whether to sue, apply for extensions, or wait for a Supreme Court ruling.
The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to a range of 3.5%-3.75%, despite opposition from three officials. The latest economic projections suggest only one rate cut in 2026, with core PCE inflation expectations lowered to 2.5% and economic growth expectations raised to 2.3%. Chair Powell emphasized rising downside risks to the labor market.
Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja sold more shares this week, cashing out $1.1 million, bringing his cumulative sales from January to December 2025 to over $19 million. Taneja became CFO in 2023, and his sales were largely executed under a trading arrangement effective May 1, 2024. Meanwhile, Tesla faces multiple challenges, including declining market share, profit pressure, and increased shareholder attention to CEO compensation plans.
Data released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on Tuesday showed that job openings rose to their highest level in five months in October, but hiring activity slowed, indicating signs of cooling in the labor market. Healthcare, retail, and wholesale trade industries pushed up the total number of job openings. Meanwhile, the quits rate fell to a near three-year low, increasing expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut.
This article is written by Diya Sagar, CFO of AWA Studios. Drawing on her experience as an investment banker, corporate strategy leader, and investor, she points out that there is a widespread expectation gap between capital providers (investors) and recipients (companies), and offers actionable communication and decision-making advice for financial leaders across three dimensions: "Do not make promises you cannot keep," "Make invested capital generate excess returns," and "Prioritize protecting capital in the face of risk."
An EY survey released Tuesday found that among companies investing in artificial intelligence, only 17% have reduced their workforce due to productivity gains from AI. In contrast, more companies are reinvesting AI benefits into new AI capabilities (42%), cybersecurity (41%), R&D (39%), and employee upskilling (38%). Dan Diasio, EY's global consulting AI leader, noted that the data challenges the common narrative that "AI primarily replaces labor," as companies shift from a productivity mindset to a growth agenda.
U.S. President Trump said on Monday that he will sign an executive order this week aimed at promoting a nationwide "unified rules" approach to regulating artificial intelligence technology. This move comes as U.S. companies face increasingly fragmented AI regulations across states. The White House declined to comment further, and National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said the order would help companies clarify the "rules of the game." Florida Governor DeSantis criticized the plan, arguing that an executive order cannot preempt state legislation. Previously, industry groups' efforts to push Congress to pass legislation had failed, and related disputes have recently intensified, leading to divisions within the Republican Party.
Microsoft plans to increase subscription prices for the Microsoft 365 commercial suite starting July 1, 2026, by an average of about 16%, due to the addition of more AI, security, and management features. Prices for Business Premium and Office 365 E1 will remain unchanged. The company also announced it will make Security Copilot available to all Microsoft 365 E5 customers and plans to introduce an "agent mode" starting in January 2026.