News
US rules for reporting interest on deposits paid to foreign taxpayers are finalised
The US Internal Revenue Service issued final regulations under Sec. 6049 outlining the rules requiring US financial institutions to report interest payments to certain nonresident alien individuals of $10 or more per year paid after December 31st 2012.Top skills sought from new internal audit staff reflect new priorities
The most sought-after skills for new internal audit staff are changing to reflect new, more strategic priorities, a study shows. Skills such as analytical and critical thinking and communication have emerged as most important as chief audit executives explore ways to increase their value to organizations.The look ahead: US interest rates; European economic sentiment; revenue recognition
The Federal Open Market Committee, which makes key decisions about the nation’s money supply, meets to discuss interest rates. The federal funds rate has remained at historic lows since 2008. Will moderate improvement in the US economy encourage the Fed to bump up the benchmark rate? Or will it stick to a plan to keep the rate low until late 2014?Outlook remains cautious despite strong US IPO returns in the first quarter
In the US, one-third more companies went public in the first quarter than a year ago, and new issuers attracted strong after-market interest from investors. But, going forward, uncertainties in the global economy might add some choppiness to the IPO market.Appreciation from managers critical in employee retention, survey shows
Forty-nine percent of workers in a recent survey said they would be somewhat or very likely to leave their current position if they didn’t feel appreciated by their manager. Management appreciation is especially important to workers ages 18 to 34.Analysts seek strategic vision, commitment to innovation from company leaders, report says
Market analysts and professionals who analyse companies for investors consider the effectiveness of a senior leadership team as second only to the current or most recent financial results among criteria they use to judge company success, a Deloitte study found.More venture capital firms look to invest outside home borders
Venture capital firms in established markets are increasingly looking for investments in emerging economies. Meanwhile, China is poised to pass Europe to take the No. 2 spot in terms of VC dollars invested this year.The look ahead: Europe expected to dominate IMF and World Bank talks
Europe’s sovereign debt crisis is expected to dominate discussions at the annual spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The IMF has been trying to raise lending resources, but power struggles are creating hurdles.How to get your team’s innovative juices flowing
CFOs see shortage of fresh thinking and too much red tape as the biggest roadblocks to organisational breakthroughs, a survey suggests. Staffing firm Robert Half International has some tips on how to overcome a dearth of fresh thinking and an overabundance of bureaucracy to inspire innovation among work teams.Webcast will discuss worldwide economic trends
One free CPE credit will be available to CGMA credential holders who participate from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday, April 18, in the quarterly CGMA Global Economic Forecast audio webcast “Widespread Recovery, or Uneven Terrain.”Companies shape enterprise risk management to fit their culture
North Carolina State University brings large and small companies together to talk about the enterprise risk-management programmes that fit their corporate cultures.Americans dedicated to long-term financial wellbeing, survey shows
Americans are more willing to give up eating out at restaurants and technology such as mobile phones and digital TV than to stop saving for retirement in a financial pinch, a survey conducted for the AICPA by Harris Interactive for the US’s National Financial Literacy Month shows.Concerns about inflation in China rise
Rising commodity prices put pressure on inflation in China as investors wonder how fast China’s economic boom will cool.Canadian executives’ mood brightens about economy
In the first quarter, Canadian executive chartered accountants felt more optimistic about the US economy, the Canadian economy and about the prospects of their own companies than they did in the fourth quarter of 2011, according to the “CICA/RBC Business Monitor”.Offshoring of back-office jobs to level off, study predicts
Employers continue to move business services jobs from the US and Europe to low-cost countries, but research suggests that the number of IT, finance, human relations and procurement jobs that can be offshored is dwindling.The look ahead: Can the US and Brazil forge a cosier economic relationship?
In the coming week: US President Barack Obama and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff will meet in Washington to continue dialogue on energy and economic issues. Meanwhile, new data could tell if China’s economic growth continues to slow. And the IFRS Foundation trustees meet in London.CFOs’ plans for cash show mixture of optimism, caution
CFOs of North American companies plan to devote 27% of their cash to domestic investment and 24% to liquidity in 2012, according to a recent Deloitte survey, demonstrating both optimism and caution in uncertain economic times.Treasury in the spotlight
The global financial crisis has brought treasurers to the fore. Timon Drakesmith, CFO of property management firm Hammerson, and Joe Romenesko, global treasurer of financial provider to the property industry, Jones Lang LaSalle, explain how their strategies have changed.Manufacturers in Brazil and US are more hopeful
Optimism among global manufacturers is rebounding as global economic conditions improve. Manufacturers in Brazil and the US are particularly confident. Companies in both countries expect more business activity, which could mean more hiring.
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