Disclosure
Candlefocus EditorThe Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sets the standard for companies to deliver certain information in a timely and publically accessible manner. All publicly-traded companies are held accountable by the SEC to make all relevant financial data available, as well as their assessment of their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. They must also release any substantive changes to the outlook of their business in a timely fashion.
In the United States, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) of 2002 established stringent rules and regulations for corporate disclosure. SOX requires firms to set up internal processes to ensure that financial statements are accurate and presented in a consistent format. It also sets in place specific requirements for firms to disclose any changes in their internal control processes and management to protect from any accounting fraud.
Disclosure rules not only provide a layer of security for investors, but also protect companies from unhealthy speculation or misleading coverage. This allows for investors and other stakeholders to have a clear understanding of the company’s financial position and prevent them from being misled or taken advantage of.
While disclosure is imperative to maintain fair and orderly markets, it does increase the workload for the accounting staff of companies. They must continually assess the relevant financial data and make sure that the information is up-to-date and in compliance with all necessary rules and regulations. Companies must inform the public of any significant changes to this data as soon as possible to avoid any negative market reaction.
In summary, disclosure is vital to ensure an efficient and secure market. It is a legal requirement for publicly-traded companies and protects them from any unfair influence and speculation. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act has set in place a number of strict rules and regulations to ensure that financial statements are accurate and up-to-date, and that the public is informed of all relevant information in the shortest amount of time. Companies must abide by these regulations and devote extra attention to the timely disclosure of all material data to maintain a good relationship with the securities markets.