Standout Stories
U.S. patent box… The United States has a rich history of encouraging and safeguarding research and development (R&D) activities. In 1981, for example, we became the first nation to realize the importance of spurring R&D through the implementation of a tax credit applied toward such activity.
As a result, the country experienced an R&D “stimulus,” leading to robust innovation and growth in sectors across the economy such as computing, healthcare, and agriculture. Read article.
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Goodwill valuation costs… To cut the cost of calculating goodwill impairment after a merger, the Financial Accounting Standards Board is proposing to remove a key step in how public companies gauge the fair value of an acquired unit.
Under a proposed accounting standard update issued last week, FASB would eliminate the second of two steps companies must now take to figure out if the fair value of an acquisition has been impaired — and if so, by how much. Read article.
Headlines
Security Products Shield Cisco From Weak Networking Market
A 17% gain in revenue from the security business helped offset weak demand for Cisco’s network and routing systems in the third quarter.
Walmart’s Numbers Brighten Retail Picture
Thanks to tactical changes, the retailing giant is growing revenues in a very competitive environment.
Is a U.S. ‘Patent Box’ a Good Idea?
It may be wise to give favored tax treatment to intellectual property in exchange for keeping it domestic, even without corporate tax reform.
FASB Looks to Cut Goodwill Valuation Costs
Companies wouldn’t have to calculate the assets and liabilities of acquired units, according to FASB’s goodwill proposal.
Low Oil prices Drive Services Companies to Merge
Oil services firms FMC Technologies and Technip will merge in an all-stock transaction.
Gambler Charged in Dean Foods Insider Trading Case
Pro golfer Phil Mickelson was not charged but agreed to pay back the profits on the trades he made.
Will Ratings Agency Downgrades Haunt Connecticut?
‘Connecticut has less flexibility to meet unanticipated revenue shortfalls,’ said Standard & Poor’s.
Trump’s Trade Tariffs ‘A Bad Deal For Americans’: Study
Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on China, Mexico, and Japan would cost each U.S. household thousands of dollars, finds one study.
CFOs on the Move: Week Ending May 20
Merkle, Morris Publishing, WSFS Financial, Houlihan’s Restaurants, Metabiota, Zendesk, Benefitfocus, Liberty Property Trust, Bunge, Extreme Networks
Gap Worn Down By Declining Sales
The Gap announced it was closing 75 stores, including Old Navy Japan, as sales continue to plunge and profits dwindle.
Corporates’ Cash Pile Rises To $1.68T
Cash holdings were up 1.8% from the year prior, with the technology sector accounting for a record 46% of total cash in 2015.
Big Leap Forward for Human Capital Disclosure
Institutional investors lean on retailers to disclose people metrics and plan to take on other industries. But how useful will the information prove to be?
SEC Considering Tighter Regulation of ETFs
“Despite the popularity and broad success of these funds, their history is not without some turbulence,” SEC Chair Mary Jo White says.
Online Lender Avant Cuts 7% of Workforce
The layoffs are another sign of upheaval in the online lending sector as investors have turned negative on funding firms.
Kristi Matus Steps Down as Athenahealth CFO
The healthcare IT provider says Matus resigned in response to its separation of her two primary areas of responsibility.
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