SEC Announces October 29 Roundtable on Mark-to-Market Accounting

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that it would hold the first of its two roundtables on mark-to-market accounting and current market conditions on October 29, 2008 at 9:00AM Eastern.  Though the specific agenda and list of participants and moderators will be announced closer to the date of the roundtable, the press release gave the following information about the roundtable's panels and topics:

The panels will include investors, accountants, standard setters, regulators, business leaders, and other interested parties. Additionally, representatives from the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) will be present as observers.

The panel discussions will focus on:

•  The effects of mark-to-market accounting on financial reporting by financial institutions.
  
  
•  Potential market behavior effects from mark-to-market accounting.
  
  
•  The usefulness of mark-to-market accounting to investors and regulators
  
  
•  Aspects of the current accounting standards that can be improved.

The October 29 roundtable will be held at the SEC's headquarters at 100 F Street NE in Washington, DC and will be open to the public.  The roundtable will also be webcast live via the SEC's website and an audio archive will be available soon after the event.  Forum News Feed will provide information on how to access the live webcast on the day of the roundtable, and will provide a link to the audio archive when the SEC makes it available. 

The full text of the SEC's press release as well as details on how to submit comments and feedback are available at:  http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2008/2008-252.htm