Accounting
Binge then bust
Politicians have recently expressed alarm at a cross-currency swap conducted between Greece and Goldman Sachs in 2001, which allowed the sovereign to reduce the debt it reported in its public accounts. But other examples now coming to light show the…
Whistleblowers need direct link to regulators, says survey
A poll on Risk.net says informants should be able to speak directly with supervisors
Regulators take aim at unrealised derivatives profits
Accounting changes promoting more fair-value reporting are forcing supervisors to consider radical restrictions on the way banks use profits.
Unrealised gains out of their hands
Some regulators have suggested profits based on uncertain valuations of complex products should not be allowed to flow into earnings and be distributed in the form of dividends and bonuses – a move that potentially has massive implications for the…
Raiders of the loss arc
Regulators are looking at ways to remove pro-cyclicality from accounting standards, with some advocating the scrapping of incurred loss models in favour of dynamic provisioning
Risk management code for hedge fund managers proposed by institute
Daily news headlines
Financial directors personally liable for financial control failings, says BCS
Daily news headlines
Standard challenges
Energy Risk Annual Awards
Taking stock
Stock options are losing favour as a method of remuneration. Chicago-based PeoplesEnergy, for one, is to stop offering them altogether. And the onset of new USaccounting rules could well lead others to follow suit. By Paul Lyon
How good is your information?
Fraud, opaque accounting practices and incomplete data are unavoidable. Butare they factored into a credit risk forecast? An emerging class of models doesthe job by assuming incomplete information. Barra's Lisa Goldberg explains.
Running late
Oil
Energy firms face “crunch time” for accounting compliance
Professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) says time is running out for energy and utility companies to get to grips with the pending implementation of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
SPV Ruling: Counting the cost
The recent crop of high-profile accountancy scandals has forced the US accounting regulator to clamp down on the 'creative' use of special purpose vehicles to shift liabilities off balance sheet. Saskia Scholtes investigates the ramifications for firms…
Corporate governance hots up on the continent
Continental European countries are increasing their focus on corporate governance issues.
Structured finance caught off-balance
Efforts by energy and finance professionals to stress the difference between legitimate off-balance-sheet entities and Enron’s opaque devices have had little impact, as US regulators rush to clean up structured finance. Maria Kielmas reports