ChatGPT in Finance, Powell’s Jackson Hole Speech, Retail Earnings: Trial Balance

The Jackson Hole Economic Symposium kicks off this Thursday, and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech on Friday morning will likely be the main event. Those attending the gathering at the Federal Reserve’s summer symposium in Wyoming will look for signs of whether the U.S. bank thinks more interest rate hikes are needed or if inflation is under control.

The final full week of August also brings updates on July’s new and existing home sales, durable goods orders, and earnings reports from major retailers, including Nordstrom, Lowe’s, Macy’s, Dollar Tree, and more.

(The Trial Balance is CFO’s weekly preview of stories, stats, and events to help you prepare.)

Part 1: The 6 a.m. CFO: How Paycor’s Adam Ante Starts His Day

Adam Ante, CFO of HR software maker Paycor, explains the need for prioritization during the workday, the family tradition he shares with his sons, and the importance of having an authentic leadership style.

“You can definitely push hard on everyone in bursts to accomplish things, but when you lead for a long period, over multiple years, you really need to be authentic in your style, because you’re going to have to show up over and over again,” Ante said. (8/24)

Part 2: Economic Calendar

Monday — President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will travel to Maui to meet with wildfire victims.

Tuesday — Toll Brothers, Urban Outfitters, La-Z-Boy, BHP, Lowe’s, Macy’s, and Dick’s Sporting Goods report earnings.

Wednesday — The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development release data on new residential sales for the month of July, as well as the median sale price, and the state of housing inventory.

The Securities and Exchange Commission holds an open meeting on rules and amendments to broker-dealer and investment adviser regulations.

The first of the Republican primary presidential debates is held in Milwaukee.

Thursday — The Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium, a gathering of central bankers, begins. Observers will look for signs of the Fed’s possible reaction to a meaningful upturn in inflation and what other scenarios related to inflation and disinflation FOMC members have been considering.

Ukraine celebrates its 32nd Independence Day.

The U.S. Census Bureau releases data on durable goods orders for July. There have been four consecutive months of increases.

Friday — Fed Chair Jerome Powell gives his speech at the Jackson Hole event. The speech can be viewed live.

Other earnings this week — Zoom Video Communications, Flexsteel, Nordson, Lufax Holding, Bath & Body Works, Autodesk, Nvidia, Snowflake, Splunk, NetApp, Williams-Sonoma, Woolworths Group, Zuora, Abercrombie & Fitch, Burlington Stores, Dollar Tree, Gap, Nordstrom, Workday, Cathay Financial, China Merchants Bank, Intuit, and Marvell Technology.

Part 3: How Finance Leaders Can Leverage ChatGPT

In today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape, it’s imperative for finance teams to embrace generative AI tools to maintain their competitive advantage. In this article, Ori Pearl, senior vice president of engineering at Tipalti, details AI and ChatGPT's impact on the finance sector, precautions to consider when implementing this technology, and best practices for leveraging ChatGPT successfully to drive business growth and gain a competitive advantage. (8/22)