Gold - The enigma - Accounting - Fair Value - Where Are We Headed
May 12, 2010
Gold Prices Extend Climb | online.wsj.com
The CDO crisis followed by the mortgage meltdown and now the Greek enigma are having a cascading effect on the price of gold. This in turn means that greater investible resources are flowing into the yellow metal - some in paper securities backed by gold and increasingly into the yellow metal itself. In this analysis I take a look at how this may impact fair value and its possible reflection on corporate earnings.
Complex Financial Instruments - Ambac Assurance Corp - Accounting Conundrums
April 28, 2010
Are Surplus Notes Disguised Equity | www.cfo.com
The referred article speaks of the case of Ambac Assurance and its issuance of debt which it says may be equity and thereby change the character of its EBITDA. In this analysis I look at how complex financial instruments are unhealthy for the company, mislead investors and may also create accounting problems.
The Greek crisis - the Euro and its effects on accounting instruments
April 9, 2010
Revival hopes beat soverign debt fears | www.ft.com
The Greek crisis is having its effects on the value of Greek sovereign debt and the same may spread. The economic crisis which started some time back on the back of the exposure to CDO's and derivative instruments is continuing to impact financial instruments due to sovereign defaults - real or perceived - Greece - Iceland. In this analysis I take a look at this problem in the context of the Balance Sheet, the Income Statement and the Cash Flow Statement.
Gold, Cash Flows and Accounting
March 25, 2010
The Shortest Distance to Cash | www.cfo.com
Gold has always been a store of value and in the last 18 months its market value has increased by over 20%. In this analysis I take a look at how this impacts treasury management, accounting and overall financial management. I also take a look at how this impacts the fair value of derivatives based on gold.
Goodwill Impairment - Accounting in a Business Downturn
March 12, 2010
Goodwill Impairment: Open to Interpretation, Again | www.cfo.com
In a time of economic upheaval and business downturn, intangible assets lose value and artificially inflated value is put to a real test. Conversely, in a boom period goodwill can be easily created in the books. Just think of the Dot Com era when share values just kept going up. In this analysis I look at some of the problems effecting goodwill valuation.
Indian Economic Policy - Effects on International Business in India
February 27, 2010
Govt. To Earn Rs 40,000 Cr From Excise Hike, Petro Duties | economictimes.indiatimes.com
The Budget has been along the expected lines as I stated in my analysis on Last Minute Budget Expectations. In this analysis I analyze how the changes in tax laws will impact international companies doing business in India.
Indian Economic Policy - Last Minute Budget Expectations
February 25, 2010
Dear Mr Mukherjee - Show Us You Can Do It | online.wsj.com
In this analysis which I write just around 12 hours before the presentation of the 2010 Indian Union Budget I give my expectations of what I expect in some key areas.
Indian Economic Policy - The 2010 Budget - Don't Expect Any Major Tax Changes
February 19, 2010
India Budget May Roll Back Tax Breaks | online.wsj.com
The referred article speaks of an expected increase in tax rates in indirect taxes - service tax and excise duty. My take on the same is somewhat different. In the analysis below I give my opinion of where i think the budget is going to head.
Regulatory fumbles in the area of Finance - Systemic and Unsystemic Risk
February 15, 2010
US Senators oppose 'systemic risk' curbs | www.ft.com
The measurement of risk is a subject of intense debate in financial academia and literature. The subject has also befuddled financial gurus ever since I can remember. The politicians attempt to set up a body to oversee and measure financial risk for individual securities is in my opinion doomed as it only attempts to do a job which rating agencies can do better. In this analysis I look at why rating agencies need to be regulated rather than direct measurement of systemic risk by a regulator.
Banking Regulation and Accounting - Effects on Accounting Estimates
February 8, 2010
Bankers, Government Officials Discuss Regulation in Davos | online.wsj.com
Bankers are getting the brunt of the blame for economic ills of the global economy. This is after the accountants were first given the blame for accounting rules which showed that there were losses when bankers and economists claimed otherwise. In this analysis I look at how this is going to effect accounting estimates especially in the backdrop of convergence of accounting standards.
Sovereign and financial crises: Europe and the U.S.
January 18, 2012
How much longer can the Japanese Yen be a "haven currency"?
December 13, 2011
Not all bank tech vendors are equal
December 12, 2011
Eksportfinans downgrade surprises investors
December 5, 2011
Why wasn't Italy's situation spotted earlier? And what's next?
November 22, 2011