In early May, SEC Chairman Paul Atkins officially announced a proposed rule ending the quarterly reporting requirement for public companies. Under this proposal, companies would be required to report their finances only twice a year—but could choose to continue quarterly reporting.

As federal law requires, the proposal was available for public comment, and it received thousands. The vast majority of comments—many from angry investors—appear deeply opposed to the new rule. No matter; a report this month in the Wall Street Journal indicates the Trump administration will ensure it becomes law no matter what.

But what are corporate finance departments thinking? Is this new rule a time saver or a false option? Will it make it easier for companies to concentrate on long-term results, or will it hide the work that goes into a turnaround? I spoke with Grant Clayton, U.S. managing partner at leadership advisory and executive search firm Egon Zehnder, about what CFOs are saying. An excerpt from our conversation is later in this newsletter.

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The war with Iran was back for a while, bringing a wider conflict in the Middle East and higher gas prices with it. Last week, President Donald Trump told media outlets he was close to launching a “massive attack” against Iran—claiming it would be the biggest yet since the war began—and oil prices neared $100 a barrel as Iran extended its blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has since backed away from the attacks he spoke about—reportedly after top officials advised against it and to continue negotiations with Middle Eastern countries about reopening critical waterways.

Oil prices have settled down, but the national average is still $4.09 per gallon, according to AAA. Markets opened on a high note on Monday as oil prices dropped, but flattened later in the day and continued slightly downward this morning amid ongoing concerns about AI infrastructure costs. The war’s wider impact on the economy will get a critical look this week as the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee meeting begins today. Forbes senior contributor Simon Moore writes that Fed governors have indicated in speeches that rates may need to go up if inflation doesn’t slow down, and as of Tuesday morning, the odds of a rate hike this week sat at nearly 33.7%, according to CME FedWatch.

As the war in Iran drags on, markets continue to be on a roller coaster, inflation stays sticky and AI keeps disrupting what had been the normal course of business, CFO confidence is also........

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