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Chief financial officers in the insurance sector are accelerating finance transformation efforts, focusing on technology adoption and workforce re-skilling to navigate rising competition, economic uncertainty, and regulatory pressures, according to an EY survey. Nearly half of CFOs cited competition as the biggest near-term challenge, while many also pointed to shifting consumer behavior and evolving regulations. The research highlights a balancing act between cutting costs and driving growth, with CFOs prioritizing process efficiency, flexible operating models, talent development, data and technology adoption, and future-ready finance structures. Re-skilling employees emerged as a top priority, particularly as firms integrate AI, with executives emphasizing that people remain critical to differentiation despite increased automation. CFOs are also expanding their roles beyond traditional finance oversight, taking on greater responsibility for strategic decision-making, capital allocation, and business performance.

 

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The SEC is forming a new ‌enforcement unit for accounting matters while cutting staff at the PCAOB, moves which Reuters says suggest the SEC is seeking to absorb some functions normally assigned ​to the PCAOB, a nonprofit which has fallen into disfavor in Republican-controlled Washington. The ⁠SEC has posted jobs online for a new "SOX" group, which will "investigate and litigate matters involving potential violations of auditing and related professional standards and provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other relevant federal securities laws." An SEC spokesperson said that auditors were "critical gatekeepers" for maintaining the integrity of financial markets and ​helping prevent ⁠fraud. "Additional hires in the enforcement division will continue the commission's longstanding efforts to crack down on bad actors in the profession," the spokesperson said.

 

Bloomberg

Reuters

The Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency have published proposals to relax capital requirements for Wall Street banks which could potentially unleash billions of dollars for lending, share buybacks and dividends. Top regulatory officials appointed by President Donald Trump say rules imposed following the 2008 financial crisis have grown ​to be too onerous and are hindering lending and the economy. Proposed changes to the "Basel III" and "GSIB surcharge" rules, alongside ‌tweaks to banks' annual "stress test" health checks, will calibrate capital in line with real risks, while still keeping the financial system safe, the officials  said. “These changes would strengthen our overall capital framework, which would remain robust under the new regime,” Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman said. Fed governor Michael Barr was the sole dissenting vote on the proposals. “I fear that, if this much weaker version of Basel III is adopted in the U.S., it could trigger a race to the bottom on standards, harming the global financial system,” he said.

 

Bloomberg

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Wall Street Journal

Jeff Bezos is in early-stage discussions to raise up to $100bn for a new investment fund aimed at acquiring manufacturing companies and accelerating their automation using artificial intelligence (AI). The proposed “manufacturing transformation vehicle” would target sectors such as semiconductors, defense, and aerospace, and could rival the scale of major funds like SoftBank’s Vision Fund, with fundraising efforts underway across the Middle East and Asia. The initiative is closely tied to Project Prometheus, an AI start-up co-led by Bezos that is developing models capable of simulating real-world physical systems to improve industrial efficiency. Prometheus is also seeking up to $6bn in funding and plans to deploy its technology across acquired businesses, as part of a broader trend of applying AI beyond software into physical industries, where automation remains at an earlier stage but is attracting growing investor interest. 

 

Bloomberg

New York Times

Wall Street Journal

OpenAI plans ‌to fold its ChatGPT app, coding platform Codex and browser into a single desktop "superapp" to simplify user ​experience. “We realized we were spreading our efforts across too many apps and stacks, and that we need to simplify our efforts,” Chief of Applications Fidji Simo shared in an internal note with employees. “That fragmentation has been slowing us down and making it harder to hit the quality bar we want.”

 

Wall Street Journal

Live Nation chief executive Michael Rapino faced intense questioning on Thursday in a U.S. antitrust trial, as lawyers probed the company’s ticket pricing, fees, and alleged dominance following its merger with Ticketmaster. A coalition of more than 20 states argues the company has built an illegal monopoly by leveraging its scale to pressure venues into using Ticketmaster and limiting competition across the live events market. During testimony, Mr. Rapino was challenged on past comments highlighting Live Nation’s market strength and profitability, as well as internal remarks suggesting ticket fees were “too high.” He defended the company’s position, stating it had helped consolidate a fragmented industry into a more efficient global platform for artists, while attributing rising ticket prices in part to resale markets and broader industry dynamics. The case continues despite a settlement between Live Nation and the U.S. Department of Justice, with remaining states seeking structural remedies, including a potential breakup of the business.

 

CNN

Bloomberg

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So-called "microshifting" is seeking to transform traditional work schedules by enabling employees to manage their time in short, productive bursts. This flexible scheduling method is gaining traction because it prioritizes work-life balance, while experts such as Kevin Rockmann, a professor of management at George Mason University's Costello College of Business, also observe that such autonomy in scheduling can enhance motivation and productivity. However, while microshifting can improve personal relationships, it is feared that it could strain professional ones, because it prioritizes individual needs over team collaboration. Effective teams are committed to working together collaboratively, but "the whole idea of microshifting is taking care of yourself,” Rockmann says. “It's not that taking care of yourself is bad. It places the emphasis on the individual, not the relationships.”

 

U.S. News

Reuters reports that Goldman Sachs plans to ​cut a small number of underperforming ‌staff in April. "Regular, consistent headcount management is nothing out of the ordinary for a public company. We ​are constantly assessing our performance and ​talent across divisions," a Goldman Sachs spokesperson said ‌in ⁠a statement.

 

Reuters

JPMorgan Chase is seeking to guard against overwork by scrutinising whether the hours junior investment bankers claim to work match up against activity electronically logged by the bank’s IT systems.

 

Financial Times

U.S. jobless claims dropped by 8,000 to 205,000 in the seven days to March 14th, the Labor Department reported on Thursday. Analysts polled by FactSet had expected the number of claims to be unchanged. The four-week moving average of new filings fell 750 to 210,750, while the total number of fresh claims, reported with a one-week lag, grew 10,000 to 1.86m.

 

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Wall Street Journal

U.S. wholesale inventories fell 0.5% in January, a sharper decline than December’s 0.1% drop, raising concerns that inventory investment could weigh on first-quarter GDP growth if the trend continues. The Commerce Department said the decline was broad-based, with notable reductions in stocks of motor vehicles, lumber, metals, chemicals, and petroleum, although some categories such as furniture, apparel, and electrical goods saw increases. Despite the inventory drawdown, wholesale sales rose 0.5% in January following a strong 1.3% increase in December, indicating steady demand and improving inventory turnover. The inventory-to-sales ratio edged lower to 1.25 months, suggesting businesses are holding leaner stock levels relative to sales.

 

US News and World Report

Mega-mergers were the primary driver of new SEC audit client wins in 2025, with CBIZ CPAs and Baker Tilly leading the market after completing major acquisitions. CBIZ added 168 new engagements, with the vast majority coming from its integration of Marcum, while Baker Tilly secured 71 new clients following its merger with Moss Adams, creating a significant spike in activity during the second quarter. Other firms also benefited from consolidation and market shifts, including smaller acquisitions and the exit or suspension of competitors, which redistributed audit mandates across the industry. Despite this, the Big Four firms continued to dominate in key areas such as audited market capitalization, total assets, and audit fees, reflecting their ability to attract larger, higher-value clients.

 

Accounting Today

Accenture has reported solid second-quarter results, with revenue rising 8% to $18bn and new bookings increasing 6% to $22.1bn, driven by growing demand for artificial intelligence services. The company also posted higher earnings, with net income reaching $2.93 per share, beating analyst expectations. The consulting firm said clients are increasingly investing in scaling AI across their operations, supporting both revenue growth and deal activity. Reflecting this momentum, Accenture raised the lower end of its full-year guidance, now expecting revenue growth of 3%-5% and adjusted earnings of $13.65-$13.90 per share.

 

Bloomberg

Wall Street Journal

Millions of Americans are losing health coverage following the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, with a survey showing that 9% of last year’s enrollees have become uninsured and around one-third have exited the ACA marketplace entirely. The loss of subsidies has driven sharp increases in premiums, forcing many individuals, particularly younger and healthier policyholders, to drop coverage due to affordability concerns. Among those who remain insured, financial pressure is intensifying, with many reporting higher out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles and copays, and some cutting back on basic household spending to keep up with premiums. Around 17% of current enrollees say they are unsure they can afford coverage for the full year, suggesting further declines in enrollment may follow. The shift is also affecting the broader insurance market, as rising costs and a shrinking risk pool have led some insurers to increase prices or exit the ACA exchanges altogether. 

 

Wall Street Journal

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is encouraging workers to work from home to combat soaring oil prices and impending fuel shortages caused by the conflict in the Middle East. The world's energy watchdog has made 10 recommendations to help households and businesses prepare for protracted disruption to energy markets, including reducing highway speed limits by at least 10 kilometers per hour, and avoiding ​air travel if other means of transport are available. "Today's report provides a menu of immediate and concrete measures that can be taken ​on the demand side by governments, businesses and ​households ⁠to shelter consumers from the impacts of this crisis,"  said IEA executive director Fatih Birol.

 

NL Times

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The Guardian