Tariffs have not caused a significant surge in inflation as expected, with a study from Barclays finding the weighted-average tariff rate in May was around 9%, well below the 12% rate previously estimated. This is due to more than half of US imports being duty-free and importers shifting to countries with lower tariffs or domestic producers. However, Barclays predicts that tariff rates will rise as loopholes close, potentially leading to higher consumer prices.

Deere & Co. has increased its estimate for pre-tax tariff impacts to nearly $600 million, up from a previous estimate of $500 million, due to accelerating costs anticipated in the final quarter. The company has already paid $300 million in tariffs over the last three quarters, including $200 million in the third quarter, and expects the remaining $300 million to be incurred this quarter. Shifting trade policies are pressuring profit margins, and the company said ongoing uncertainty and commodity prices are driving more cautious spending among farmers.

Analysts warn that a booming stablecoin market -- now over $250 billion and dominated by Tether and Circle -- could divert funds from bank deposits into US Treasury bills, potentially shrinking bank lending capacity. Federal Reserve research suggests a $900 billion market could mean a $325 billion drop in bank loans, while Moody's flags risks to money market funds, commercial paper and short-term debt demand. Heavy reliance on Treasuries for reserves might lower sovereign borrowing costs in the near term but would raise concentration risk if no diversification occurs.

US stocks could decline if the Federal Reserve signals a dovish stance at the Jackson Hole economic symposium after a record rally, Bank of America strategists say. Investors have moved into risky assets, anticipating rate cuts, but a "buy rumor, sell fact" reaction could lead to a market drop, according to the strategists.

Cybersecurity budget growth has slowed significantly in 2025, with the average increase dropping to 4%, compared to 8% last year and marking the lowest rate in five years, according to a report from IANS Research and Artico Search. This deceleration reflects a shift in organizational priorities from large-scale investments to optimizing and maintaining existing security systems. The report attributes the slowdown to security programs reaching maturity and a cooling of post-pandemic stimulus spending.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory has implemented a dynamic pricing strategy, adjusting the prices of its chocolates every three months to respond to changing cocoa costs. Rather than reacting to seasonal demand, the company bases its scheduled price changes on input costs to help maintain control over margins. The approach uses updated data collection to monitor product performance and costs in real time, allowing for targeted price adjustments by product.

Tariffs are forcing 43% of companies to raise prices and 38% to reduce capital expenditures, according to a BDO survey taken in May before most tariffs took effect. Many companies are reevaluating their pricing models and considering strategies such as transfer pricing adjustments, duty drawback and sourcing diversification to mitigate the impact.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board has finalized its first comprehensive rule on accounting for environmental credits, such as carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates. The rule mandates a single accounting model for public and private companies and aims to increase comparability and transparency in financial reporting. While the standard originally proposed broad disclosure requirements, the FASB scaled back some of these in response to companies' concerns.

Private credit deployment fell sharply in the second quarter of 2025, with major firms reporting significant year-over-year drops in capital allocated to new deals, and some funds faced situations where repayments outpaced new investments. The slowdown was primarily attributed to market uncertainty caused by new US tariffs and suppressed M&A activity. As traditional direct lending faced headwinds, some managers have sought to diversify their strategies, such as pivoting to asset-backed finance, to sustain deployment volumes.

Private equity firms are increasingly using continuation vehicles to retain ownership of portfolio companies amid a deal-making drought, with some firms creating continuation vehicles of continuation vehicles, or CV-squared. However, some investors are beginning to push back, citing concerns about conflicts of interest and a preference for traditional exits such as sales or public offerings.