Risk Management
EY Survey: Nearly 80% of Global Companies Plan to Increase Occupational Safety and Health Budgets in the Next Three Years
The global EHS maturity study released by Ernst & Young (EY) in August 2025 shows that 78% of companies and government agencies worldwide plan to increase their environmental, health, and safety (EHS) budgets over the next three years. Based on a survey of 526 executives and EHS leaders across 34 countries, the study indicates that EHS investment not only enhances compliance and operational efficiency but also strengthens organizational resilience. Data from the International Labour Organization (ILO) shows that approximately 3 million people die each year from work-related accidents or diseases globally, an increase of 5% compared to 2015.
Weak employment growth, unemployment rate rises to 4.3%, expectations for Fed rate cut in September increase
The latest data from the U.S. Department of Labor shows that August nonfarm payroll growth was far below expectations, and the unemployment rate rose to 4.3%, paving the way for a rate cut at the Fed's September meeting. The probability of a cumulative 75 basis point rate cut by the end of the year has risen significantly.
Federal Reserve Governor Nomination Hearing: Milan Questioned Over Future Fed Independence Commitment
Stephen Milan, Chairman of the U.S. Council of Economic Advisers, faced intense questioning at his Senate Banking Committee nomination hearing. Democratic lawmakers worried that, if confirmed as a Federal Reserve governor, he might succumb to political pressure from President Trump due to his planned return to the White House, undermining the central bank's independence. Milan insisted he would uphold monetary policy independence.
US job openings fall to 10-month low in July, layoffs rise
Data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday showed that job openings fell to 7.18 million in July, the lowest level since September 2024, while layoffs increased to 1.8 million, a 10-month high. St. Louis Fed President Musalem stated that recent data has heightened concerns about downside risks in the labor market. Policy uncertainty continues to affect corporate hiring decisions, and market expectations for a Fed rate cut in September have risen to 95%.
U.S. Manufacturing Output and Employment Continued to Weaken in August, Price Pressures Persist
The latest ISM report indicates that U.S. manufacturing activity contracted for the sixth consecutive month in August, with weak output and employment indicators, but new orders improved slightly. Although price pressures eased modestly, they remain at high levels, presenting the Federal Reserve with a dilemma at its September policy meeting.
How Agentic AI is Reshaping the Financial Services Industry
Financial services institutions are at a tipping point in leveraging AI agents to achieve more streamlined, efficient, and automated operations. This article provides an in-depth analysis of how agentic AI is applied in areas such as banking, capital markets, insurance, and asset management, highlighting the key steps in building agent roles, the challenges and solutions in orchestrating complex workflows, and the broad prospects for its future development.
Remote Work Eases the 'Motherhood Penalty': Expanding the Scope of Family-Friendly Roles
A study released by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) shows that companies offering remote work flexibility can significantly alleviate the 'motherhood penalty' women suffer in 'family-unfriendly' industries (such as finance and business) due to childbirth. The remote work trend expands the range of family-friendly occupations, promising to reduce gender inequality in the labor market.
Atlanta Fed Warns: Tariffs Could Trigger 'High-Risk' Inflation Shock
A report from the Atlanta Fed shows that tariffs are driving businesses to raise price expectations, posing an inflation risk similar to a pandemic-era supply shock. The report states that businesses directly bearing the tariffs raised their annualized price increase expectations by 0.7 percentage points, while those indirectly affected raised them by 0.3 percentage points. Meanwhile, Fed Chair Powell hinted at a possible rate cut in September but warned that upside inflation risks remain.
Survey: One in Four Companies Lose Over $1 Million to a Single Fraud Incident
A report released by Trustmi on Wednesday shows that over the past year, one in four companies lost over $1 million to a single fraud incident, and over 80% of companies experienced at least one fraud. Generative AI makes attacks more sophisticated, and the disconnect between finance and security teams exacerbates risks.
Consumer Confidence Declines: Growing Concerns over Employment and Income
According to the Conference Board, the consumer confidence index dropped 1.3 points to 97.4 in August, with perceptions of job difficulty rising to their highest since 2021 and income expectations deteriorating. Tariffs and inflationary pressures continue to weigh on consumer sentiment.