Listing of AFP News Articleshttp://www.afponline.org/ArticleRss.ashxSat, 25 May 2013 15:35:29 -0400Sat, 25 May 2013 15:35:29 -0400Corporate treasurers are highly skeptical about the merits of money-market funds switching to a floating net asset value. The general consensus among attendees at a recent roundtable was that Rule 2a-7 appears headed for an overhaul that is likely to include a floating NAV.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/Corporate_Treasurers_Wary_of_Floating_NAV.htmlTue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/Corporate_Treasurers_Wary_of_Floating_NAV.htmlFrance is leading European countries in making renminbi payments to China following a 249 percent growth in payments value since March 2012, according to SWIFT. France is now ranked fourth in the world for RMB payments value, behind the UK, Singapore and Taiwan.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/SWIFT__France_Becoming_a_Major_Player_in_RMB_Payments.htmlTue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/SWIFT__France_Becoming_a_Major_Player_in_RMB_Payments.htmlThe pace of economic expansion picked up during the first three months of 2013, but the growth rate in the gross domestic product (GDP) was slower than anticipated.http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/AFP_EconWatch__GDP_Growth_Slow_in_Q1_2013.htmlMon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/AFP_EconWatch__GDP_Growth_Slow_in_Q1_2013.htmlWhen corporates set up a regional treasury center (RTC), they often focus on how their bank can support them, but is also crucial to put the right legal structure in place.http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/Regional_Treasury_Centers_Need_the_Right_Legal_Structure.htmlThu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/Regional_Treasury_Centers_Need_the_Right_Legal_Structure.htmlUntil recently, Canada levied a withholding tax on commercial paper issues in the United States, making it attractive for Canadian subsidiaries of U.S. parents to issue CP in Canada. But since the tax was lifted 18 months ago, CP issuance by foreign entities has dropped significantly in Canada—a trend that will likely continue.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/Corporate_Issuance_of_CP_Continues_to_Drop_in_Canada.htmlTue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/Corporate_Issuance_of_CP_Continues_to_Drop_in_Canada.htmlThis was another week where the equity markets touched new or multi-year highs, the bond market sold off a bit, and the economic outlook is lukewarm at best. Time will tell if we have finally moved to a period of determining how fast the U.S. economy is growing, rather than asking: is the U.S. economy growing?http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/This_Week_in_Corporate_Finance__Lukewarm_Outlook_.htmlMon, 15 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/This_Week_in_Corporate_Finance__Lukewarm_Outlook_.html A sharp drop in the price of energy goods led to the first decline in producer prices in three months during March.http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/AFP_Econwatch__Producer_Prices_Decline.htmlMon, 15 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/AFP_Econwatch__Producer_Prices_Decline.htmlIn a recent interview SEC Commissioner Daniel Gallagher said he expects new rules governing money-market mutual funds to be proposed within two months. The proposal would include a floating NAV, Gallagher said.http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/SEC_Commissioner_Hints_at_Money_Market_Fund_Proposal_Near.htmlThu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/SEC_Commissioner_Hints_at_Money_Market_Fund_Proposal_Near.htmlCan the currency markets—and any others for that matter—get any more volatile? The continued volatility calls for treasurers to look at new—or at least underutilized—hedging strategies, such as the use of options.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/More_Options_for_Hedging.htmlWed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/More_Options_for_Hedging.htmlThe U.S. economy created fewer jobs in March than it had in any previous month since last summer. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that non-farm payrolls expanded by a seasonally adjusted 88,000 workers last month, the first time the economy failed to create at least 100,000 jobs since it added 87,000 workers last June.http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/AFP_EconWatch__U_S__Economy_Stumbles.htmlMon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/AFP_EconWatch__U_S__Economy_Stumbles.htmlThe see-saw which is the U.S. economy continued again last week as a weaker-than-expected payrolls report put a bit of a damper on the recent positive narrative we had been witnessing. Concerns about the economy not being as robust as previously thought caused money to move in a classic “risk-off” trade and U.S. Treasury securities were the beneficiaries at the expense of the equity market.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/This_Week_in_Corporate_Finance__U_S__Payrolls_Weaker_than_Expected.htmlMon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/This_Week_in_Corporate_Finance__U_S__Payrolls_Weaker_than_Expected.htmlIn a stark contrast to previous quarters, Canadian CFOs’ optimism in first quarter 2013 was fairly modest compared to that of their U.S. counterparts. According to a new survey, Canadian CFOs’ net optimism recovered only slightly, going from -6 in Q4 2012 to +7 in Q1 2013, while U.S. CFOs' optimism went from -11 to +32.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/Survey__Canadian_CFOs_Less_Optimistic_than_American_Peers.htmlThu, 04 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/Survey__Canadian_CFOs_Less_Optimistic_than_American_Peers.htmlThe compliance deadline for corporate end-user reporting requirements under Dodd-Frank is fast approaching. CFTC Commissioner Bart Chilton believes enforcement should be suspended until the end of October.http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/CFTC_to_Delay_Swap_Reporting_Rules_for_Corporate_End-Users_.htmlWed, 03 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/CFTC_to_Delay_Swap_Reporting_Rules_for_Corporate_End-Users_.htmlCanada’s economy, which lagged in the second half of last year, is expected to pick up, according to a new report from the OECD. One initiative that could help spur some growth in the coming months is the Start-Up Visa program, which launched April 1.http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/Canadian_Growth_to_Pick_Up_.htmlTue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/Canadian_Growth_to_Pick_Up_.htmlConsumers appear to have brushed off concerns about federal budget spending cuts, at least for now, if their spending behavior is any indication.  http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/EconWatch__Consumer_Spending_Increases.htmlMon, 01 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/EconWatch__Consumer_Spending_Increases.htmlWelcome to the end of the first quarter and a hopeful beginning of a healthy and prosperous second quarter. While we continue to experience some headwinds coming out of Europe, the mood here is one of guarded optimism.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/This_Week_in_Corporate_Finance__Guarded_Optimism_as_Q2_Begins.htmlMon, 01 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/This_Week_in_Corporate_Finance__Guarded_Optimism_as_Q2_Begins.htmlTreasurers attending the CTC Corporate Treasurers Forum in New York, May 15-17, won’t want to miss closing keynote speaker Michael Leiter, former director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). In a recent interview, Leiter stressed the risks and opportunities that come with international expansion.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/Former_NCTC_Director_Discusses_Geopolitical_Risk.htmlThu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/Former_NCTC_Director_Discusses_Geopolitical_Risk.htmlIn an open letter, FiREapps CEO Wolfgang Koester asks newly confirmed Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to re-focus the U.S. strategy on China’s currency manipulation. Koester believes it is in the best interest of the U.S. and the rest of the world that China move forward with yuan liberalization.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/China_Should_Follow_Chile_on_Currency_Liberalization.htmlThu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/China_Should_Follow_Chile_on_Currency_Liberalization.htmlWe spent most of the week going back-and-forth as to whether Cyprus could be another Greece. The debt and equity markets rallied and fell depending on the latest news out of Nicosia. The general feeling at week’s end was that while this was probably not going to be a major disruption to the world financial markets.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/This_Week_in_Corporate_Finance__Cyprus_Shake-Up.htmlMon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/This_Week_in_Corporate_Finance__Cyprus_Shake-Up.htmlThe Federal Open Market Committee voted last week to stay the course with its aggressive accommodative policies even though it acknowledged a rebound in economic activity.http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/EconWatch__FOMC_Votes_to_Stay_the_Course.htmlMon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/EconWatch__FOMC_Votes_to_Stay_the_Course.htmlLONDON -- While serving on a panel at the Risk Annual Summit this past week developments were breaking in the banking crisis in Cyprus. The summit's attendees offered a unique perspective into that country -- especially from a treasurer's perspective.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/A_European_Treasury_Perspective_of_the_Cyprus_Banking_Crisis.htmlFri, 22 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/A_European_Treasury_Perspective_of_the_Cyprus_Banking_Crisis.htmlU.S. companies’ cash reserves rose 10 percent at the end of last year, according to a new report from Moody’s. Moreover, the rating agency noted that more than half of that money is stashed overseas.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/Cash_Reserves_Up_10_Percent_in_2012,_Continue_to_Grow_Abroad.htmlWed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/Cash_Reserves_Up_10_Percent_in_2012,_Continue_to_Grow_Abroad.htmlIn this week's edition: manufacturing picked up some steam in February as output grew for the third time over the past four months.http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/AFP_EconWatch__March_18,_2013.htmlMon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/AFP_EconWatch__March_18,_2013.htmlData overload, or big data, can quickly turn from a blessing into a curse if you do not have the capability to mine it for useful information. This is where FP&A procedures and business intelligence data mining tools can come to the aid of a treasury team seeking useful information from the huge data volumes common in business today.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/Case_Study__Microsoft%E2%80%99s_Treasury_Mines_Big_Data_and_FP_A.htmlWed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/Case_Study__Microsoft%E2%80%99s_Treasury_Mines_Big_Data_and_FP_A.htmlThe Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) projected weak growth for Canada’s export-reliant economy in its Composite leading indicators (CLIs), released Monday. But one Canadian treasury executive believes observers should narrow their focus to one industry—oil.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/Canadian_Economy_is_Slowing;_Oil_Exports_to_U_S__are_Key.htmlTue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/Canadian_Economy_is_Slowing;_Oil_Exports_to_U_S__are_Key.htmlFor the third time over the past four months, non-farm payrolls grew by at least 200,000 workers. Data featured this week includes employment, factory orders, international trade and the Non-Manufacturing ISM Report on Business.  http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/AFP_EconWatch__March_11,_2013.htmlMon, 11 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/AFP_EconWatch__March_11,_2013.htmlFor those looking for signs that the U.S. economy is finally pulling out of its morass, this was probably the best week in at least four or five years. The payrolls number came in at an above-consensus +236k and the unemployment rate fell lower than expected to 7.7 percent.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/This_Week_in_Corporate_Finance__Stocks_Soar_on_U_S__Jobs_Data.htmlMon, 11 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/This_Week_in_Corporate_Finance__Stocks_Soar_on_U_S__Jobs_Data.htmlOver the past two weeks, the market has been a bit bipolar: optimism about the growth potential for the U.S. economy (reflected in the equity market) versus concern about the lack of growth potential in the U.S. and world economies (reflected in the bond market).http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/This_Week_in_Corporate_Finance__Optimism_Vs__Concern.htmlMon, 04 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/This_Week_in_Corporate_Finance__Optimism_Vs__Concern.htmlIt was a big week for Basel III news. The European Union agreed to cap bank bonuses, the Banco Central do Brasil announced its new capital rules, and the U.S. Federal Reserve made clear its intent to finalize rules.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/Basel_III_Update__EU_Agrees_to_Bank_Bonus_Cap.htmlFri, 01 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/Basel_III_Update__EU_Agrees_to_Bank_Bonus_Cap.htmlCanadian business capital spending is poised for a dismal year, as slowing demand for commodities is causing some of Canada’s most vital companies to decrease their investments. Public and private sector investment in construction, machinery and equipment is poised to rise just 1.7 percent in 2013, the smallest increase since the economic downturn of 2009.http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/Decline_in_Commodity_Demand_Hurting_Canadian_Capex.htmlThu, 28 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0400http://www.afponline.org/mbr/reg/res/reg_news/Decline_in_Commodity_Demand_Hurting_Canadian_Capex.html