Firms measure fair values using Level 2 or 3 inputs when items do not trade in liquid markets, limiting market discipline over the measurements. We provide evidence that firms holding higher proportions of financial instruments measured at Level 2 and 3 fair values report more conditionally...

We examine how fair value accounting affects debt contract design, specifically the use and definition of financial covenants in private loan contracts. Using SFAS 159 adoption as our setting, we find that a small but significant proportion of loans (14.5%) modify covenant definitions to exclude...

This paper examines whether fair value adjustments included in other comprehensive income (OCI) can predict future performance in banks. We also examine whether the reliability of these fair value estimates affects their predictive value. Using a sample of bank holding companies, we find that...

Investors demand conditional conservatism to restrict managers' ability to opportunistically exploit unverifiable accounting estimates. The fair value estimation process is subject to verifiability concerns when market prices are unavailable, and thus susceptible to managerial discretion. We...

The FASB and the IASB have defined the provision of decision useful information as the primary objective of financial reporting. Decision usefulness is based on two fundamental qualitative characteristics, relevance and reliability (now replaced by “faithful representation”). Using a...

This paper experimentally investigates how fair value measurements of financial instruments affect the decision of nonprofessional investors to invest in a bank's shares. Specifically, we assess how investors respond to variations in net income resulting from fair value adjustments in trading...

In this paper we present a rigorously motivated pricing equation for derivatives, including general collateralization schemes, which is consistent with quoted market bond prices. Traditionally, there have been differences in how instruments with similar cash flow structures have been priced if...

We investigate how investors price the fair value estimates of assets as required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 (SFAS 157) since the financial crisis in 2008. We observe that Level 3 fair value estimates are typically priced lower than Level 1 and Level 2 fair value...

This study empirically examines whether difference in audit quality is reflected in the pricing of other comprehensive income (OCI). Specifically, we first investigate whether OCI measures of Big 4 clients are more-value relevant than those of non-Big 4 clients. Considering different degrees of...

This research paper studies the quality of own credit (OC) risk disclosures in European banks by analyzing their annual reports. By defining and applying a self-developed disclosure index that incorporates both the (i) relative quantity and (ii) richness of the information provided, it is found...