Identifying cash equivalents, or: the six-month itch

A European example of issues arising in identifying cash equivalents As part of its activities, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) organizes a forum of enforcers from 42 different European jurisdictions, all of whom carry out monitoring and review programs similar to those carried out here by the Canadian Securities Administrators. ESMA recently published…

A standard-setter for non-financial reporting, or: flattery and despair

Eumedion is a Dutch entity that promotes the interests of institutional investors in the field of corporate governance and sustainability. It recently issued for comment a green paper: Towards a global standard setter for non-financial reporting. Here are some extracts: The attention of investors and other stakeholders for non-financial reporting has increased dramatically over the…

Disclosing share buybacks, or: sugar high!

A recent article in Economia cited Senator Elizabeth Warren’s denunciation of stock buybacks, as a practice that “create(s) a sugar high for the corporations. It boosts prices in the short run, but the real way to boost the value of a corporation is to invest in the future, and they are not doing that.” It’s…

Hans got more mail!

Regular readers may recall that a year ago, courtesy of my mole at the IASB, and without regard for my personal safety, I broke through a never-before-penetrated wall of secrecy and published a treasure trove of correspondence to and from the office of Chair Hans Hoogervorst. Here now, obtained at equal risk, is a further…