European CFOs turn defensive as uncertainty deepens
by Ben Poole
European CFO confidence has deteriorated sharply as geopolitical risk, energy costs, and margin pressures take hold.
News
Global growth reaches five-month high as price pressures ease - Weekly roundup: 11 August
by Ben Poole
Inflation risks return as bond markets test central banks; Japanese equities face yen risk; UK equity fund outflows surge as policy uncertainty grows.
Idle cash exposes the current limits of real-time treasury
by Ben Poole
Treasury teams want immediate liquidity availability but systems, investment structures and banking relationships can hamper this.
Treasurers weigh AI forecasting as trust concerns persist - Weekly roundup: 4 August
by Ben Poole
Fed expected to hold rates through 2026; CFO risk concern falls despite widespread financial impact; Citi links invoice processing with SCF.
July’s economic data puts forecasts back under pressure
by Ben Poole
The global economy regained some momentum at the start of the third quarter, while giving treasurers more moving parts to build into their forecasts.
Treasurers press new PM for clearer UK business strategy - Weekly roundup: 28 July
by Ben Poole
Dutch banks set timetable for Wero migration; Investors seek stock themes beyond AI volatility; Mastercard widens B2B virtual card controls.
Swift tackles hidden delays in cross-border payments
by Ben Poole
A new research paper has put numbers on one of the industry’s most persistent problems.
CFOs urged to rebalance AI spending towards strategic value - Weekly roundup: 21 July
by Ben Poole
ECB lines up 36 PSPs for digital euro pilot; UKEF targets SME export finance; Gibraltar border deal eases post-Brexit business friction.
Policy uncertainty pushes FX into North American boardrooms
by Ben Poole
Policy uncertainty, dollar volatility and shifting rate expectations are delaying projects, reshaping supply chains and changing where firms operate.
17 banks line up for Swift tokenised payments pilot - Weekly roundup: 14 July
by Ben Poole
Mega-deal slowdown tests global M&A resilience; Finance leaders reject opaque AI despite high accuracy; Risk aversion slows US growth despite AI push.
Landmark FCA review charts rise of agentic finance
by Ben Poole
A UK report highlights how continuous financial management enabled by AI agents will hit retail finance by 2030.
CFOs to narrow talent investment as AI reshapes finance - Weekly roundup: 7 July
by Ben Poole
AI capex steadies outlook amid oil volatility; Banks struggle with reconciliation as automation gaps persist; Procurement cost pressures intensify.
Corporate growth exposes cracks in treasury infrastructure
by Ben Poole
As cash spreads across more entities and banks, treasury’s ability to see, forecast and control it struggles to keep pace.
European treasurers prioritise cash flow as risks mount - Weekly roundup: 30 June
by Ben Poole
Corporates risk payment disruption as ISO 20022 deadline nears; Digital euro clears hurdle towards EU negotiations; Goldman cuts US recession risk.
Factory stockpiling masks fragile global growth in June
by Ben Poole
June's flash PMIs point to a world economy moving at sharply different speeds, with the Middle East conflict distorting both demand and costs.
Dollar gains ground as euro outlook darkens - Weekly roundup: 23 June
by Ben Poole
Business travel holds firm as costs climb; UK businesses stay confident as global risks mount; Danish payment providers move kroner clearing to STEP2.
Treasurers build cash buffers as stablecoins stall
by Ben Poole
Treasurers are keeping short-term portfolios anchored in traditional liquid assets and leaving stablecoins largely outside daily liquidity strategy.
FCA softens MMF liquidity plan - Weekly roundup: 16 June
by Ben Poole
Treasurers face wider geopolitical risk map; Goldman sees Fed cuts delayed until 2027; Nordic cross-currency payments go live.
Why CFOs should turn AI activity into measurable value
by Ben Poole
CFOs need to move beyond isolated AI pilots and build more disciplined finance road maps if they want to deliver measurable business impacts.
Treasurers push banks for practical innovation - Weekly roundup: 2 June
by Ben Poole
CFOs urged to move AI beyond pilots; Corporates lift FX hedging as volatility bites; Project Agorá moves towards live testing.
Treasurers turn defensive as volatility becomes business as usual
by Ben Poole
New research shows the treasury community has become more accustomed to macro shocks, but is not complacent about them.
Global growth slows as shocks spread - Weekly roundup: 26 May
by Ben Poole
Australian shares rise on US-Iran deal hopes; Flash PMIs show growth cooling as prices rise; Long bond yields climb as US rate cut bets fade.
Why treasury matters in M&A
by Ben Poole
Cash visibility, trapped liquidity, FX risk, funding plans and banking structures are a few of the areas where treasury is essential.
Finance pay rises slow as resource pressure builds - Weekly roundup: 19 May
by Ben Poole
US recession risk eases despite oil shock; Global factoring turnover tops €4 trillion; Glencore taps FIS for US$2.55bn receivables securitisation.