Today’s Purpose for M&A: Gaining Digital Expertise

Last year was a big one for mergers and acquisitions. Many market forecasters point to an equally robust 2019.And who knows — maybe some of the deals will be big category-spanning moves like such recent ones as Amazon leaping into gourmet grocery stores through Whole Foods and AT&T striding d...

By David McCann • April 5, 2019

WTO Rebuffs Trump on ‘National Security’ Claims

In a decision with implications for the Trump administration’s global automobile tariffs, the World Trade Organization has ruled it does have the power to review whether a member nation has properly made national security claims.The Trump administration has said such claims are not subject to WTO...

By Matthew Heller • April 5, 2019

Explore the Trendline➔

Tax policy shifts: What CFOs need to know to stay ahead

Discover how evolving tax policies are creating new opportunities and challenges for CFOs.

By CFO.com staff

WeWork Buys Managed by Q Logistics Platform

WeWork is making another move to diversify beyond shared-office leasing by acquiring office management startup Managed by Q.The acquisition combines two companies that, according to Quartz, have taken “different approaches to workplace disruption and the on-demand economy.”Managed by Q, which was...

By Matthew Heller • April 4, 2019

Are Unicorns Ready for Their Close-up?

While Lyft’s long-anticipated IPO last Friday was a big success, the company’s journey in the public markets is just beginning, as evidenced by its stock price this week.As the trend to stay private longer has become pervasive, with easy access to cross-over investors and inexpensive debt, many o...

By David McCann • April 3, 2019

U.S. Retail Sales Take Surprising Dip in February

U.S. retail sales fell for the second time in three months in February, signaling economic growth for the first quarter will be tepid despite a surge in consumer spending in January.The Commerce Department said on Monday retail sales dropped 0.2% in February as households cut back on purchases of...

By Matthew Heller • April 1, 2019

U.S. Current Account Deficit Grows to $134.4B

The U.S. current account deficit widened in the fourth quarter to its highest level in 10 years and increased slightly as a percentage of gross domestic product.The Commerce Department said the current account deficit, which measures the flow of goods, services and investments into and out of the...

By Matthew Heller • March 28, 2019

Apple Enters Streaming Wars With Apple TV+

Apple has unveiled its long-awaited streaming service as part of its push to grow its services business amid slower iPhone sales.The new Apple TV+ service will launch in the fall and feature original content, with roughly two dozen shows already in production or development. It will be ad-free on...

By Matthew Heller • March 26, 2019

Treasury Yields ‘Invert’ in Possible Recession Sign

Long-term Treasury bond yields fell below short-term yields on Friday for the first time since 2007, indicating growing pessimism over the outlook for U.S. economic growth.Around 10 a.m., the three-month note yielded 2.468% while the benchmark 10-year was around 2.44%. A yield curve inversion has...

By Matthew Heller • March 22, 2019

Banks Warned on Crypto-Asset Exposures

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) on Wednesday provided some clarity to financial institutions about the dangers it thinks crypto-assets pose to the global financial system. It also gave some details of the steps banks need to take to manage any exposures to them.The BCBS, the int...

By Vincent Ryan • March 13, 2019

Key Investment Measure Gains 0.8% in January

U.S. core capital goods orders rose by the most in six months in January, rebounding from a sharp slowdown the previous month.The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft — a key measure of business investment — increased 0.8% in January ...

By Matthew Heller • March 13, 2019

Execs’ Optimism About Economy Drops to 34%

Business executives’ optimism about the global economy has fallen sharply over the past year, reflecting concerns over trade conflicts, according to the American Institute of CPAs.In its Business and Industry Economic Outlook Survey for the first quarter, AICPA found that 34% of respondents were ...

By Matthew Heller • March 7, 2019

U.S. Trade Gap Jumps 12.5% to 10-Year High

The U.S. trade deficit surged to a 10-year high in 2018, belying President Donald Trump’s efforts to close the gap through protectionist trade policies.The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that the deficit rose 12.5% last year to $621 billion, the highest level since 2018.Counting only good...

By Matthew Heller • March 6, 2019

Gap to Spin off Old Navy, Keep Specialty Brands

Gap is planning to spin off Old Navy, its strongest brand, into a standalone company, betting that its namesake and other specialty brands will benefit from its undivided attention.With the spinoff, Gap would lose a brand that accounted for $8 billion in sales, or 47% of company-wide sales, in 20...

By Matthew Heller • March 1, 2019

U.S. Economic Growth Slows to 2.6% in Q4

U.S. economic growth slowed significantly in the fourth quarter of 2018 but the economy remains on track for its longest-ever expansion, reflecting healthy consumer and business spending.In its first GDP reading for the fourth quarter, the Commerce Department reported Thursday that the economy gr...

By Matthew Heller • Feb. 28, 2019

Where Should Companies Plant Their Stakes?

Amazon is far from the only company evaluating where to invest for growth, geographically speaking. While others aren’t necessarily seeking a second headquarters location, certain cities may be more attractive than others for new or expanded business units or sales outposts.However, identifying t...

By David McCann • Feb. 25, 2019

Philadelphia Sues Banks for Bond Rate Collusion

The City of Philadelphia has accused seven of the largest U.S. banks of conspiring to “substantially inflate” interest rates on floating-rate municipal bonds to benefit themselves and money market funds they managed at the expense of issuers.The harm inflicted by the banks, including JPMorgan Cha...

By Matthew Heller • Feb. 22, 2019

Key Investment Measure Drops 0.7% in December

U.S. core capital goods orders dropped unexpectedly in December, providing further evidence of a slowdown in business spending on equipment that could dampen economic growth.The Commerce Department reported Thursday that orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft — a key measure of b...

By Matthew Heller • Feb. 21, 2019

Alibaba Boosts Stake in Chinese Bank to 4.8%

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has raised its stake in China International Capital Corp. in a move that continues its expansion into the booming fintech sector.According to a regulatory filing in Hong Kong, Alibaba bought 117 million CICC H-shares on Feb. 14 at an average price of HK$15.50, ind...

By Matthew Heller • Feb. 19, 2019

NY Fed Warns of High Auto Loan Delinquencies

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York has warned of a “substantial and growing number” of auto loan delinquencies in what could be a sign of trouble for the broader U.S. economy.The bank said that although overall delinquency rates remain below the peak levels of 2010, there were more than 7 milli...

By Matthew Heller • Feb. 19, 2019

GE Scales Back Plans for New HQ in Boston

In another retreat from the vision of former CEO Jeff Immelt, General Electric has decided not to build a 12-story headquarters office tower on the Boston waterfront.The company is still planning to move its headquarters from suburban Connecticut but will now only house its senior executive team ...

By Matthew Heller • Feb. 15, 2019

U.S. Industrial Output Declines 0.6% in January

U.S. industrial production unexpectedly dipped 0.6% in January, with across-the-board weakness raising alarms that the economy has hit a “soft patch.”The decline in output, which appears to reflect rising protectionism and decelerating economic growth around the world, was the first since May 201...

By Matthew Heller • Feb. 15, 2019

Firms Hedging Against Risk of No-Deal Brexit

Industrial companies are preparing for a possible no-deal Brexit by boosting inventories, relocating warehouses, and adjusting supply chains, according to S&P Global Ratings.The credit rating agency said its analysis of corporate earnings calls showed a “substantial pre-Brexit surge in invent...

By Matthew Heller • Feb. 12, 2019

Poor Credit History? No Problem: E-Commerce Firm

With about 80% of Americans living paycheck to paycheck, a start-up e-commerce firm like Zebit makes perfect sense from a market-demand standpoint.The company targets consumers with no access to credit who need short-term cash to make purchases larger than their paychecks can handle. It’s in that...

By David McCann • Feb. 5, 2019

Shifting Business Models Vex Hospital CFOs

Fundamental changes in how health care is delivered and paid for have been evolving, albeit very slowly, for years. Yet CFOs in the field, already short on confidence in their ability to adapt, are apparently getting even less confident.In a new study, only 13% of finance executives at hospitals,...

By David McCann • Feb. 1, 2019

U.S. Employers Add 304,000 Jobs in January

U.S. employers hired the most workers in 11 months in January, indicating the labor market remains strong despite fears of an economic slowdown.The Labor Department said Friday the economy added 304,000 jobs last month, reaching the milestone of 100 straight months of employment gains. The unempl...

By Matthew Heller • Feb. 1, 2019