Editorial Staff

Vice President Joe Biden indicated that the White House could be ready to make a deal with Republicans on expanding the level of income that would qualify for the Bush tax cuts extension.

The American Institute of CPAs has told the Securities and Exchange Commission that accountants need an adequate transition period if the SEC decides next year to incorporate International Financial Reporting Standards into the U.S. financial reporting system.

Angelo Mozilo, the former chief executive of mortgage lender Countrywide Financial, has agreed to pay $22.5 million to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the largest-ever financial penalty for a public company senior executive.

Starting salaries in the accounting and finance fields are expected to rise an average of 3.1% in the coming year.

The financial firms that suffered the greatest stock-price declines during the economic crisis tended to be those with the highest proportion of independent directors, according to a new study.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued final regulations under a law change that will require reporting of basis and other information by stock brokers and mutual fund companies for most stock purchased in 2011 and all stock purchased in 2012 and later years, making it easier for investors to report their gains and losses next year on their tax returns.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed a new rule, based on requirements under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, that would help those managing their own family's financial portfolios determine whether their “family offices” can continue to be excluded from the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

The Internal Revenue Service is getting the word out to employers about a provision in the recently passed Small Business Jobs Act that allows them to amend their 401(k) or 403(b) plans to allow participants to transfer an eligible rollover distribution into a Roth 401(k) or 403(b) account.

President Obama signed the Small Business Jobs Act into law on Monday, providing $12 billion in tax breaks and a $30 billion lending fund for small businesses.

Financial Executives International has written to congressional leaders criticizing President Obama’s proposal to close foreign tax credit loopholes in exchange for making the research & development tax credit permanent.

The Internal Revenue Service’s Office of Chief Counsel should improve the timeliness of the private letter rulings it issues and reduce the number of rulings issued, recommended a new government report.

Financial Accounting Standards Board technical director Russell G. Golden has been appointed a member of the board, filling one of three vacancies on the newly expanded panel.

The Senate approved legislation on Thursday that would provide $12 billion in tax breaks to small businesses, along with a $30 billion lending fund.

Institutional broker dealer MF Global Holdings has hired Greg Shonhorn for its fixed- income group in New York effective Sept. 7.

Global volume in derivatives, however, is up 8.4%.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged two former senior accounting professionals at headphone maker Koss Corp. with accounting fraud, books-and-records violations, and related misconduct arising from the embezzlement of more than $30 million from the company.

The CEO and founder of SocialTwist shares five ways for executives to use social media for promotions and marketing.

The payment represents the single largest cash payment AIG has made to the credit facility, and is the largest reduction in the credit facility's principal balance since AIG placed AIA and ALICO into Special Purpose Vehicles last December.

The Investment Company Institute reported Wednesday that $5.96 billion were added to mutual funds in the week ended August 11. But U.S. equity funds continued to lose ground for a fifth straight week.

BNP Paribas said Tuesday it has named Edward Speal head of global equities and commodity derivatives Americas, Lionel Crassier head of equities Americas, and Dan Cozine head of Structured Finance Americas. In addition Chris Innes has joined as head of equity flow and financing sales for the Americas.