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Major retailers oppose Visa-Mastercard fee settlement
Walmart and major retail groups have urged a U.S. judge to reject a proposed antitrust settlement with Visa and Mastercard, arguing it allows the firms to continue charging excessive swipe fees and forces merchants to waive claims without meaningful reform. The $30bn case, settled in November, would slightly cut fees for five years, but critics…
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CFOs skeptical of Trump’s Fed strategy, despite upbeat economic outlook
Chief financial officers remain broadly optimistic about the U.S. economic outlook but are unconvinced that President Donald Trump’s decision to replace Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell will enhance the central bank’s effectiveness, according to CNBC’s Q4 2025 CFO Council Survey. The majority of CFOs expect economic stability in 2026, with 73% describing their outlook as…
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Trump orders increased scrutiny of proxy advisers in ESG rebuke
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to “increase oversight” of proxy advisers that guide shareholder votes made by pension funds and some other money managers, saying top firms often “advance and prioritize radical politically-motivated agendas.” Trump directed the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission and the Labor Department to review…
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OpenAI warns of high cybersecurity risks from new AI models
OpenAI has issued a warning regarding its forthcoming artificial intelligence models, indicating they could present a “high” risk to cybersecurity as their capabilities evolve rapidly. The company noted that the models might not only develop zero-day exploits but could also assist in sophisticated intrusion operations aimed at significant effects. To mitigate these risks, OpenAI is…
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U.S. bank regulator says banks can act as crypto intermediaries
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has confirmed that banks can act as intermediaries in “riskless principal” crypto transactions, in guidance which narrows the gap between the traditional financial sector and crypto activities. In an interpretive letter, the OCC said banks may act as principals in a crypto trade with one customer…
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Trump prepares to sign executive order blocking state AI regulations
President Donald Trump has announced plans to sign an executive order creating a national standard for artificial intelligence, aiming to simplify regulations that currently vary across U.S. states. The move, which seeks to support Big Tech companies, is expected to face bipartisan opposition from state leaders who wish to maintain local control over AI legislation….
