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A new Coface survey has found that 57% of U.S. finance and risk executives would rather reject a business opportunity than build the case for pursuing it, highlighting a culture of caution that the company says is limiting growth even as organizations invest heavily in artificial intelligence to improve decision-making. The 2026 Risk Survey: Risk Management from Risk Control to Growth Engine found that 80% of U.S. executives see AI-powered insights and early warning systems as a top priority for managing risk, with many hoping the technology will help them make faster, more confident decisions. However, the report found that inconsistent data quality, cited by 31% of respondents, remains a major obstacle, while 68% want predictive analytics embedded into everyday business workflows. Despite relatively mature governance structures, many organizations continue to treat risk management as a barrier rather than a driver of growth. The survey found that 66% of executives identified internal risk aversion as a key obstacle to expansion, 65% believe commercial ambition and risk discipline are fundamentally at odds, and only 28% view their risk teams as strategic growth partners. While 76% of companies have clearly defined decision-making structures and 71% align their risk appetite with growth strategies, many leaders said they want risk professionals to identify commercial opportunities as well as potential threats.

 

CPA Practice Advisor

President Donald Trump defended his tariff policies on Monday during a visit to General Motors' vehicle testing facility in Milford, Michigan, arguing that higher import duties have strengthened U.S. manufacturing and encouraged companies to expand domestic production, even as many Michigan businesses warn the tariffs are increasing costs and weighing on the state's economy. The trip came ahead of Michigan's August 4th primary, where Mr. Trump also campaigned for Republican candidates, including his endorsed gubernatorial candidate, John James. However, the visit highlighted growing economic tensions in a state heavily dependent on trade with Canada, which has been targeted with tariffs of up to 50% on a range of products, including automobiles. Business groups and political opponents argue the tariffs are raising costs for manufacturers, disrupting cross-border trade, and creating uncertainty for Michigan's auto industry. The tariffs have also strained U.S.-Canada relations, contributing to the cancellation of a planned joint celebration marking the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge linking Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.

 

BNN Bloomberg

The Center Square

Cracker Barrel has announced that chief executive Julie Masino will step down next month after less than a year in the role, following a failed rebranding effort that sparked customer backlash and failed to reverse weakening sales. David Deno, the former chief executive of Bloomin' Brands, will take over on August 10th, while Masino will remain in an advisory role until October 9th. The restaurant chain's attempted modernization, including a new logo and redesigned stores, was quickly reversed after customer criticism, but trading has remained weak, with same-store sales declining 1.8% in its fiscal third quarter ended May 1st.

 

CNBC

New York Times

US News and World Report

The Washington Post

Federal prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission are investigating whether fraud occurred in approximately $16bn of private credit transactions involving insurance companies owned by Los Angeles Dodgers majority owner Mark Walter, following an internal whistleblower complaint that raised concerns about accounting practices at Guggenheim Investments. The investigation initially focused on how Guggenheim recorded revenue from dealings with affiliated insurance companies before expanding to examine whether loans made to entities connected to Walter or TWG Global were properly disclosed after being transferred onto the balance sheets of Walter-owned insurers through a third party. Regulators are reviewing whether these related-party transactions complied with disclosure requirements designed to protect policyholders. Internal reviews by Delaware Life Insurance and Clear Spring Life and Annuity identified errors in how certain related-party investments were classified, prompting Delaware Life to reclassify $16bn in investments as affiliated, increasing affiliated assets to 42% of its portfolio.

 

Wall Street Journal

BuzzFeed is cutting approximately 35% of its workforce, which translates to about 180 staff and contract positions across BuzzFeed, HuffPost, and Tasty. The layoffs were announced in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing and are part of efforts to achieve "profitable and sustainable growth," according to the company's leadership. The restructuring follows Byron Allen's acquisition of a majority stake in BuzzFeed for $20m in cash and a $100m promissory note. Despite a reported $15m net loss in the first quarter, BuzzFeed said it aims to enhance its audience and strengthen its position in free streaming content. The company is set to release its second-quarter results on August 4.

 

Los Angeles Times

U.S. business investment remained resilient in June as spending on artificial intelligence continued to boost demand for technology equipment, according to the Commerce Department, with core capital goods orders and shipments exceeding expectations despite geopolitical uncertainty and tariffs. Non-defense capital goods orders excluding aircraft, a key measure of business investment, increased 0.9% in June after an upwardly revised 1.9% gain in May, while shipments of those goods surged 1.9%, providing a strong signal for second-quarter equipment spending. Growth was led by a 3.1% jump in orders for computers and electronic products, alongside gains in electrical equipment and primary metals. The broader durable goods report showed orders rebounded 0.3% after a 4.0% decline in May, although transportation equipment orders remained weak. Economists said AI-related capital expenditure, inventory rebuilding, and tax incentives continue to support U.S. manufacturing and the wider economy, with second-quarter GDP expected to grow at an annualized 2.1%. 

 

Reuters

Wall Street Journal

Amazon has filed plans with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to deploy a constellation of more than 5,000 satellites by 2028 to provide direct-to-device mobile services, expanding its competition with SpaceX's Starlink. The proposed network would offer voice, messaging, data and emergency services using radio spectrum acquired through Amazon's $11.6bn purchase of Globalstar. The project is expected to intensify competition in the satellite mobile market, with analysts estimating deployment could cost $13bn-$20bn. Amazon currently has more than 390 broadband satellites in orbit, compared with SpaceX's constellation of more than 10,000 active satellites. 

 

CNBC	Financial Times

Microsoft has announced its first artificial intelligence model designed to identify vulnerabilities in source code. When integrated with OpenAI's GPT-5.4, MAI-Cyber-1-Flash reportedly outperforms competitors including Anthropic's Mythos 5 and Google's 3.5 Flash Cyber. “We have world-leading performance at 50% of the cost,” said Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI. The initiative marks a significant push in Microsoft's cybersecurity strategy, led by Hayete Gallot, who in February rejoined the company as executive vice president of security.

 

CNBC

Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay up to $5.5bn to settle outstanding lawsuits alleging its talc-based products caused ovarian cancer, marking a significant step towards ending more than a decade of litigation. The settlement is conditional on 95% of remaining claimants opting in and would resolve nearly 80,000 claims. The company expects to pay up to $3bn in 2027, with no further payments due before 2028. The agreement follows recent court rulings that weakened the plaintiffs' cases, after expert witnesses were unable to directly attribute individual cancers to talc. J&J has consistently denied the allegations and said the claims lacked scientific merit.

 

CBS News

Financial Times

Wall Street Journal

Fanatics has agreed to acquire a designated contract market and derivatives clearing organisation from BGC Group to launch and expand its own prediction market exchange in the US. The deal includes Commodity Futures Trading Commission-registered Water Street Labs and CX Clearinghouse, although financial terms were not disclosed. The acquisition will strengthen Fanatics Markets, the group's prediction markets business launched in 2025, which allows users in 23 U.S. states to trade contracts linked to sports outcomes.

 

Bloomberg

Reuters

Sazerac has urged Brown-Forman shareholders to reconsider its previously rejected $15bn takeover proposal, offering $32 per share in cash and signalling it is prepared to improve the terms if the Jack Daniel's maker's board agrees to engage. The unsolicited bid, which values Brown-Forman at a premium of around 40% to its share price before the approach, is backed by Wells Fargo and Apollo Global Management. Brown-Forman and its controlling Brown family shareholders have reaffirmed their confidence in the business and rejected the proposal, saying the company is well positioned to deliver long-term shareholder value. 

 

Louisville Courier Journal

Wall Street Journal

LVMH has reported a return to growth in its key fashion and leather goods division for the first time in almost two years, with second-quarter organic revenue rising 1% to €8.9bn, supported by improving demand at Dior and continued growth at Louis Vuitton. Group organic sales increased 3% to €19.5bn, ahead of market expectations, while first-half recurring operating profit fell 4% to €8.7bn due to currency movements, with operating margins remaining stable at 22.5%. LVMH also reported 11% growth in its watches and jewellery division and a 5% increase in wine and spirits sales, while noting that disruption from the Middle East conflict reduced quarterly organic growth by around one percentage point. Meanwhile, LVMH chair and chief executive Bernard Arnault has rejected reports of divisions among his five children over the group's future leadership, insisting the family remains united despite ongoing speculation about succession. The 77-year-old billionaire, who has led the luxury group for nearly four decades, said media claims of a family power struggle were fictional and highlighted that his children, all of whom hold senior roles at LVMH, work closely together. Mr Arnault has given no indication of stepping down, with the company having raised the maximum age for its chair and CEO to 85 last year.

 

Bloomberg

Financial Times

Reuters

Wall Street Journal

Gen Z workers at Tokyo-based business support and development firm Global Partners (GP) who are disenchanted with “soft” modern workplace culture that they see as hindering growth, are seeking to tap the corporate zeal that fueled Japan’s post-war economic miracle. Japan Times reports that the company has become a viral sensation for its routine corporate practices - including the chanting of work targets during daily meetings - aimed at boosting productivity. The company's internal motto is “Holding back is evil.”  GP founder and CEO Koji Yamamoto, 54, explained: “If you don’t say anything because you don’t want to rock the boat, you end up ’quietly quitting’.” 

 

Japan Times