October 2003
The IASB has published amended proposals in an exposure draft for IAS 39 to enable fair-value hedge accounting to be used more readily.
July/August 2003
On 9 June, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the results of the Treasury’s assessment of the five economic tests for sterling's membership of the single European currency. At the same time, he released 18 separate studies that underpinned the analysis of the five tests. Here, we summarise the key points in the studies that will be of most interest to financial directors.
July/August 2003
In May, the Accounting for People Taskforce, set up by trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt and headed by Competition Commission deputy chairman Denise Kingsmill, produced an initial consultation document on tackling 'accounting intangibles'. This autumn, the taskforce is expected to make recommendations to the government.
June 2003
New US legislation and a series of proposals to amend the UK Combined Code are throwing the spotlight on the relationship between internal and external auditors.
May 2003
FRED 31, Accounting for share-based payments, has reopened the debate on how to account for employee share options.
May 2003
US standard setter FASB has decided to re-examine the accounting treatment of stock options.
April 2003
The DTI's Review of the Regulatory Regime of the Accountancy Profession and the Coordinating Group on Audit and Accounting Issue's reports explained.
February 2003
With the introduction of International Accounting Standards in 2005, the Accounting Standards Board has published guidance on how UK standards match up against current IASs.
January 2003
The Committee of European Securities regulators has published a statement of principles regarding the enforcement of accounting standards throughout Europe.
December 2002
The Auditing Practices Board has drawn up an Auditors' Code which lays out the fundamental principles that auditors are meant to follow.
Business rates
October 2003
Administrative disruption seems likely given plans by the Valuation Office Agency to rush through revaluations of 1.5 million business premises in time for 2005.
Listing rules
June 2003
An outline of the FSA's report into Marconi's failure to announce price sensitive information to the market on time.
Communications
January 2003
The Communications Bill was introduced to the House of commons on 19 December 2002. it is designed to introduce a new regulatory regime for UK telecommunications, broadcasting and the internet.
Directors' pay
December 2002
DTI regulations of directors' pay will apply to quoted companies with financial years ending on or after 31 December 2002.
Financial reporting
October 2002
Details of the ICAEW's draft guidance for companies publishing prospective financial information for investors.
Corporate finance
September 2002
Rights issues: The case for underwriting versus a deep discount. The alternative is to do both.
Audit
December 2002
The Auditing Practices Board has drawn up an Auditors' Code which lays out the fundamental principles that auditors are meant to follow.
September 2003
In July, the Financial Reporting Council published its redrafted and finalised Combined Code on Corporate Governance.
May 2003
After many years of consultation it looks as if UK law is about to allow companies to buy back their own shares and hold them 'in treasury'.
March 2003
The provisions for the Smith Report detail how audit committee activities should be reported to shareholders.
March 2003
How the Higgs Report on non-executive directors is relevant for finance directors.
November 2002
A summary of the recommendations made by various institutes to the Higgs review on the role of non-executive directors.
October 2003
The FSA has published a discussion paper to debate anti-money laundering controls.
October 2003
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 will be fully implemented by January 2005 and it has far reaching consequences for commercially sensitive information given to regulators and public bodies.
September 2003
As more companies outsource their business and IT funactions to companies at home and abroad, FDs must be aware of the legal pitfalls that their companies can fall into.
September 2003
A little-known House of Lords court case has the potential to increase the ability of companies to break long commercial property leases without having to pay all of the remaining rent to the landlord.
July/August 2003
After extensive consultation with business and a delay of two years, the Information Commissioner has published Part 3 of the Employee Practices Data Protection Code. The code deals with whether companies can monitor employee telephone calls, internet usage and emails in the workplace. involve identifying a problem you are trying to solve; for example, theft in the workplace.
June 2003
New legislative proposals will have a far-reaching effect on British nationals and companies operating in countries where bribery and corruption are a regular part of doing business.
June 2003
Case studies of UK domain name disputes between companies.
January 2003
The Communications Bill was introduced to the House of commons on 19 December 2002. it is designed to introduce a new regulatory regime for UK telecommunications, broadcasting and the internet.
January 2003
A new set of proposals from the Health & Safety commission will for the first time require compulsory investigation of all work-related accidents.
December 2002
The new enterprises Act received Royal Assent in November 2002 and will come into effect in stages in 2003.
September 2002
How to exit a property early so both your company and your landlord gain from the deal and avoid wrangles over damages.
September 2002
Proposals in the White Paper on company law, the government's first response to the Company Law Review final report.
September 2002
Companies' obligations and guidelines under the Data Protection Act 1998, which sets rules for processing personal information held electronically.
April 2003
A recent European Court of Justice decision of cross-border financing of subsidiaries within the EU may require tax laws to be rewritten.
April 2003
Inland Revenue proposals that would make it more difficult to avoid paying top-rate stamp duty on property transactions could also hinder M&A activity.
February 2003
Summary of Marks & Spencer's VAT battle with Customs & Excise which led to the retailer losing its case over group relief for overseas losses.
November 2002
Customs have slashed the time period in which VAT reclaims are allowed from six to three years after overpayment is discovered. The European Court has ruled there must be a transition period.
October 2002
The UK government launched its share incentive plan (SIP) in 2000. 45% of FTSE-350 companies are expected to offer the scheme by April 2003.
May 2003
Two practical applications of XML help demistify the technology.
April 2003
Email is frequently used to conduct contract negotiations. But emails are not be legally binding in many cases.
March 2003
The ten major contractual errors that corporates make when formulating IT contracts and partnerships.
February 2003
Industry guidance for large and medium-size business on how to purchase financial software.
December 2002
Broadband options and terminology explained.
November 2002
Glossary of general terminology, industry standards and a guide to best practice in IT security.
October 2002
New E-commerce regulations came into force in August 2002, adding an extra level of complexity to compliance legislation.
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