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Accounting for financial instruments: A comparison of European companies’ practices with IAS 32 and IAS 39

Author

Listed:
  • Patrícia Teixeira Lopes

    (University of Porto, Faculty of Economics, Portugal)

  • Lúcia Lima Rodrigues

    (School of Management and Economics, University of Minho, Portugal)

Abstract

This paper analyses accounting for financial instruments of STOXX 50 companies and compare them to the requirements of IAS 32 and IAS 39, before IFRS are mandatory in the European Union. We use a list of 120 categories of inquiry and 370 possible responses and analyse companies’ annual reports. The results show that the majority of companies disclose the fair value amounts and methods of calculation but the information is neither clear nor objective, preventing the fair value information from being relevant and useful. We conclude that companies have a long way to go in terms of accounting and disclosure of financial instruments, namely derivatives. The mandatory adoption of more stringent standards such as the IAS 32 and IAS 39 may improve the information disclosed by companies. Doubts about the compliance degree and the usefulness of the information still remain. This paper brings new perspectives to the challenges of IAS/IFRS adoption, namely to what relates to fair value measurement.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrícia Teixeira Lopes & Lúcia Lima Rodrigues, 2007. "Accounting for financial instruments: A comparison of European companies’ practices with IAS 32 and IAS 39," FEP Working Papers 239, Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Economia do Porto.
    • Handle: RePEc:por:fepwps:239
    as

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    File URL: http://www.fep.up.pt/investigacao/workingpapers/07.03.07_WP239_LopesRodrigues.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Keryn Chalmers, 2001. "The Progression from Voluntary to Mandatory Derivative Instrument Disclosures – Look Who's Talking," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 11(23), pages 34-44, March.
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    3. Jitka Rychtarikova, 2004. "The case of the Czech Republic," Demographic Research Special Collections, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 2(5), pages 105-138.
    4. Geoffrey Whittington, 2005. "The adoption of International Accounting Standards in the European Union," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(1), pages 127-153.
    5. Paul Pacter, 2005. "What exactly is convergence?," International Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 2(1/2), pages 67-83.
    6. Keryn G. Chalmers & Jayne M. Godfrey, 2000. "Practice versus Prescription in the Disclosure and Recognition of Derivatives," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 10(21), pages 40-50, July.
    7. Margaret Woods & David Marginson, 2004. "Accounting for derivatives: An evaluation of reporting practice by UK banks," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(2), pages 373-390.
    8. Street, Donna L. & Gray, Sidney J. & Bryant, Stephanie M., 1999. "Acceptance and Observance of International Accounting Standards: An Empirical Study of Companies Claiming to Comply with IASs," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 11-48.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Agnieszka Judkowiak, 2021. "Disclosure Practices of Information in the Field of Financial Instruments: Evidence from Polish Companies Listed in the Warsaw Stock Exchange," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(Special 1), pages 468-493.
    2. Daniele Gervasio & Damiano Montani, 2017. "Credit Institutes’ Disclosure and Presentation of Derivatives after the Crisis," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 12(2), pages 123-123, January.
    3. Rene Johannes & Dedy Dedy & Abdullah Muksin, 2018. "The Preparation of Banking Industry in Implementing IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (A Case Study of HSBC Holdings Plc Listed on London Stock Exchange of Year 2015 2017)," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 8(6), pages 124-136.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Accounting for financial instruments; Fair value accounting; International Accounting; Accounting harmonisation; IAS/IFRS; STOXX 50;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting

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