GLG News in Accounting & Financial Analysis

Recently, stock prices of most public homebuilders have increased 20-30 percent.  This despite no visible signs of improvement in the overall housing industry.  It seems early in the cycle for these stock price upward movements, as it appears the housing market has not yet found bottom.  Equity buyers at the present stock prices must be patient and have a mid- to long-term perspective...

Homebuilders have recorded large inventory impairments over the last couple of years.  Most of these impairments have been for land and lots.  As these previously impaired lots are built on and a completed home is delivered, the land component as a percentage of Cost of Goods Sold may decline significantly.

I think the information presented in the article is consistent with Western Union picking up market share from competitors. Despite flat U.S. revenues over 05-07 period and likely near flat revenues from the U.S. in Q108 in part attributable to the Mexican results, Western Union has gained significant international market share over the 05-07 period and, with Q108 gains coming from China...

Short term Financial Instrument ( For trading purposes ) are bought in the Financial secondary market to be traded within a short term period normally less than one year, and could carry a maturity period of more than one year. The purchase (or Sale) of such an instrument in the secondary market is normally for liquidity purposes, and the proceeds are posted directly to the income statement. Medium...

Claiming a "mixed attribute" accounting model provides a better picture of a company's business and earnings engine, bank trade groups blast full fair value. The bank trade groups argue that periodic updating to fair value would lessen the predictive value of future cash flows.  They also argue that “a mixed measurement model is essential for the faithful representation of an entity’s business...

Depending upon management's classification of a security (i.e., either "trading" or "available for sale"), a charge may or may not appear on the income statement in the same period as the write-down on the balance sheet. If the security is classified as a trading security, the charge on the income statement will occur in the same period as the write-down.  However, if the security is classified...

Increasing interest rates and debt service, a Decrease in available cash, a Migration to more fixed rate borrowing and appeals to state governments for assistance, a delay in physical plant additions/upgrades

Have a daughter who is a retired school teacher. She was required to perform in life's real world as a student teacher for a period of roughly six months prior to her graduation. Points of requirement:  1.  Opportunity to observe the teacher who was her mentor and evaluator. 2.  Opportunity to relate to the students on a one on one basis.         ...

As the  rate of  growth of  economies  the  world over grows so does the frequency  of  failures and shortcomings in global  and  national  financial markets. In this analysis I take a look  at  the  role which  the  nature of financial training and education plays in these  repeated unhealthy  financial cycles.

This article discusses the move for Companies to report revenues using IFRS rather than US GAAP.  The move to IFRS is troublesome for several reasons: 1. US GAAP provides specifics and guidance for a multitude of revenue transactions and industries, many of which will be scrapped; 2. In contrast, Global Standards have many variants diminishing consistency and comparability between companies;...