International taxes

The International Monetary Fund lowered its economic growth projections for 2025, citing policy uncertainty. It also urged central banks to stand ready to use macroprudential tools to facilitate lending in a potential recession.

The Dallas-based regional bank doesn't plan to halt in-progress investments, but it may adjust the pace of spending this year, depending on which way the economy goes. It also made downward revisions to its outlook for average loans, net interest income, fee income and expenses.

Executives at the Cleveland bank are concerned about tariff uncertainty, stubborn inflation and stalled deals — but they haven't changed their guidance for 2025.

Fifth Third Bancorp revised its guidance, but still expects record net interest income for 2025, even as commercial clients signal that economic volatility will drive up inflation.

CEO Stephen Squeri said current strategy will continue, adding it would look to adjust expenses in areas such as marketing if there's an economic downturn.

The super-regional bank cited "a material slowdown" in investment banking and trading income as one reason for the lower revenue forecast. Interest rates are also a factor, executives said.

The Sweden-based payment firm, which recently delayed its IPO due to the trade war, will use Fiserv's Clover point of sale system as it looks to build a market in the U.S. Plus: Payoneer makes a deal in China and other news in this week's global payments roundup.

Markets welcomed the 90-day pause on President Donald Trump's tariff plan, but banker forecasts for mergers and acquisitions and earnings remain uncertain.

President Trump's tariff regime and resulting price shocks may put additional pressure on small banks, requiring an already undermanned Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to turn to assisted M&A deals to resolve failed banks, accelerating consolidation in the industry.

As tariff turbulence continues, BofA is predicting a slowdown, not a downturn. But America's second-largest bank is also signaling that it's prepared for a more severe scenario.

CEO Jane Fraser said Tuesday that the bank is positioned well to handle shakiness in the global market, and is still working on its years-long overhaul.

Experts say transaction growth is OK now, but the next year will be fraught with risk.

Federal Reserve Board member Christopher Waller said he would not be deterred from classifying inflation as "transitory" despite the board's recent experience underestimating inflationary pressures.

Just three months after hailing a positive "sentiment shift" following last November's election, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon lamented President Trump's trade war and said "the prospect of a recession has increased."

The chief executives at four of the nation's largest banks weighed in on what evolving trade policies mean for their businesses and the U.S. economy. "I think you have to be a little bit pessimistic here," said Bank of New York Mellon CEO Robin Vince.

The JPMorgan Chase CEO said Friday that recent turmoil in the bond market highlights the need for more capital and liquidity flexibility.

Bank of New York Mellon's earnings blew past Wall Street's expectations, but CEO Robin Vince said the bank is bracing for long-lasting uncertainty.

After rapid changes in U.S. trade policy, banks and their clients are putting merger deals on ice until the dust settles.

The Minneapolis Fed chief repeated his view that the potential inflationary impact of tariffs make the Fed less likely to lower interest rates, even in the face of a weakening economy.

The administration's unpredictable policy has already caused shifts in foreign exchange rates and supply chain payments. Uncertainty about future levies will cause added pressure despite the 90-day pause.