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Finance chiefs at U.S. public companies have the shortest average tenure in the C-suite at just 2.1 years, according to a new report from FP&A platform provider Datarails, with more than 60% of firms changing finance chiefs between 2020 and 2025, highlighting significant instability in the role. Despite this turnover, compensation has surged, with median CFO pay rising 61.8% to $3.86m over five years, reflecting the role’s growing strategic importance, although it still trails CEO pay, which accounts for over 60% of total C-suite compensation. The study also noted modest gains in female representation, reaching 17.6% in 2024.

 

CFO

Saks Global chief executive Geoffroy van Raemdonck says the luxury retailer is progressing toward recovery after filing for bankruptcy earlier in 2026. Since taking over, he has focused on restoring vendor relationships, securing inventory, and restructuring operations through store closures, job cuts and ending some partnerships. The company reports improved supply levels, with hundreds of brands resuming shipments following partial repayments to creditors. Saks expects to exit bankruptcy this summer and forecasts $85m in adjusted earnings for the current fiscal year. Management aims to return to peak sales by 2027–28, targeting high-spending luxury customers and positioning its portfolio of brands as a competitive advantage.

 

Wall Street Journal

Apple has held exploratory talks about using ​Intel and Samsung Electronics to produce the main ‌processors for its devices. The tech giant's executives have visited a Samsung plant under development in ​Texas, and also have held preliminary talks with ⁠Intel about contracting the company's chipmaking services. Bloomberg notes that while such a move would offer Apple another ​option beside longtime partner Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), the iPhone-maker is concerned about using non-TSMC technology, citing worries about reliability and scale.

 

Bloomberg

Amazon is expanding its logistics ambitions by launching Supply Chain Services, offering its global fulfilment and transportation network to businesses beyond its marketplace. The move mirrors the evolution of Amazon Web Services, turning internal infrastructure into a commercial product. The service integrates warehousing, shipping and delivery into a single platform, positioning Amazon as a full third-party logistics provider competing with firms such as DHL Group. With a vast existing network and growing demand for outsourced logistics, Amazon is targeting a share of the $1.3tn global market, aiming to capitalize on rising expectations for fast, reliable delivery.

 

Wall Street Journal

The Trump administration is considering the introduction of government oversight for new AI models. The U.S. government is discussing an executive order to create an AI working group that would bring together tech executives and government officials to examine potential oversight procedures. The New York Times notes that the mooted discussions signal a stark reversal in the administration’s approach to the technology; Donald Trump has been a major booster of the technology since returning to office last year, saying it is vital to winning the geopolitical contest against China. “Right now it’s a beautiful baby that’s born,” Mr. Trump said of AI at an event in July. “We have to grow that baby and let that baby thrive. We can’t stop it . . . We can’t stop it with foolish rules and even stupid rules.”

 

New York Times

The best hiring prospects for many 20-somethings are in fast-growing Southern cities, according to new analysis by payroll processor ADP shared with the Wall Street Journal. Birmingham, Ala., tops the list of the places where new college graduates are landing jobs with a college-level career track, followed by Tampa, Fla. Six of the list’s top 10 hot spots, including Raleigh, N.C.; Tulsa, Okla.; Nashville, Tenn.; and Charlotte, N.C., are in the South. “We’re seeing a huge migration of wealth, moving from the Northeast, like New York and Massachusetts, coming down south,” observes Hazel McQueen, a finance major at the University of Georgia,  who is moving to the Tampa area after graduation to work at J.P. Morgan Private Bank as an analyst.

 

Wall Street Journal

The SEC has delayed the launch of more than two dozen proposed prediction-market ETFs as it seeks further clarity on product structure and investor disclosures. Fund managers including Roundhill, Bitwise, and GraniteShares had planned to introduce ETFs tied to real-world events such as elections, recessions, and commodity prices, but regulatory scrutiny over mechanics, risks, and potential insider trading concerns has postponed approvals. The delay is expected to be temporary.

 

Reuters

Berkshire Hathaway has reportedly selected Gen Re chair Charlie Shamieh to succeed longtime insurance head Ajit Jain upon his retirement, marking a key leadership transition in the conglomerate’s core division. Shamieh, who has led Berkshire-owned Gen Re since 2018 and previously held senior roles at AIG, is expected to take over the group’s global insurance operations, with Jain, credited with building its reinsurance strength, set to step down after decades in the role.

 

Reuters

Wall Street Journal

Goldman Sachs has expanded its management committee, elevating global head of mergers and acquisitions Stephan Feldgoise and head of risk for investment banking and trading Josh Schiffrin.

 

Financial Times

The Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index (LEI) declined by 0.6% in March to 97.3, reversing February’s 0.3% gain and pointing to a likely slowdown in U.S. economic activity. The drop was driven by weaker building permits, declining consumer expectations, and softer stock prices, key components used to anticipate shifts in the business cycle. Over the six months to March 2026, the LEI fell 1%, indicating continued but moderating deterioration compared with the prior six-month period. The data suggests that rising oil prices and ongoing supply-chain pressures are likely to weigh on growth, while also contributing to inflation and reducing consumer purchasing power in the months ahead.

 

RTT News

Wall Street Journal

Elon Musk has settled a civil lawsuit with the SEC regarding his delayed disclosure of Twitter stock purchases. The SEC had accused Musk of delaying the announcement of his 5% stake in Twitter, allowing him to buy shares at lower prices. A trust in Musk's name will pay a $1.5m civil penalty without admitting wrongdoing. The settlement marks the largest civil penalty for such violations in SEC history. "Mr. Musk ⁠has now been cleared of all issues related to the late filing of forms in the Twitter acquisition, as we said from the outset he would be," his lawyer Alex ​Spiro said. "It's ​an embarrassing day for the SEC," observed Amanda Fischer, former chief of staff to Gary Gensler, who chaired the regulator during the Biden administration. She said the settlement "should cause the public to question whether ‌the SEC ⁠is protecting White House insiders at the expense of ordinary investors.”

 

Reuters

The Guardian

Global tax reporting and withholding functions are undergoing rapid transformation driven by new regulations, digital asset reporting requirements, and the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, creating both efficiency gains and heightened compliance risks. AI is enabling organizations to automate data processing, validate taxpayer information, calculate withholding, and monitor regulatory obligations in real time, but requires strong governance to avoid errors, outdated logic, and overreliance on automated decisions, particularly as tax authorities such as the IRS also deploy advanced analytics to detect discrepancies. With expanding requirements including digital asset reporting frameworks and legislative changes such as the OBBBA, automation is becoming essential for managing complexity, supporting compliance, and reducing risk, especially in areas like documentation validation, cross-border reporting, and integration challenges arising from mergers and acquisitions.

 

The Tax Adviser

A growing number of U.S. states are moving to raise taxes on the wealthy, as widening inequality and budget pressures prompt renewed efforts to rebalance tax systems. Maine and Washington have recently enacted new levies on high earners, while similar proposals are under consideration in more than a dozen states, though they often face political resistance and legal challenges. Proponents argue such measures promote fairness and fund public services, citing evidence that lower earners bear a disproportionate burden, while critics warn they may deter investment and drive affluent residents to lower-tax jurisdictions. The debate reflects an increasingly polarised fiscal landscape, with Democratic-led states pursuing progressive taxation as some Republican-led states move in the opposite direction.

 

CPA Practice Advisor

Europe's top banks, including BNP Paribas, Societe Generale and Standard Chartered, have earmarked €610m ($710m) to brace for the expected impact of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran. The total amount of disclosed war-related charges also includes BBVA, Credit Agricole, Deutsche Bank and ING. “We have used this quarter to increase our provisions in anticipation of a potential deterioration in the economic environment due to the turbulent geopolitical situation surrounding the conflict in the Middle East,” Credit Agricole CEO Olivier Gavalda said. “We are being very cautious.”

 

Bloomberg

Doris Fisher, co-founder of Gap, has died aged 94. Though largely out of the spotlight, the Wall Street Journal says she played a central role in shaping the retailer’s identity, from naming the brand to guiding merchandising and style. She and her husband launched the first store in 1969, building it into a global fashion business. Ms Fisher also became a prominent art collector and philanthropist, supporting education and cultural institutions. Colleagues credited her vision, discipline and influence in both retail and the arts.

 

Wall Street Journal