FASB Blinks On 'Mark To Market' Methodology At Last

Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal published an article reporting on FASB's late, halting steps to modify 'mark to market' accounting for financial sector firms- banks and life insurers.

In the piece, the Journal reporters wrote,

"Accounting watchdogs are fast-tracking an effort to provide a small dose of "mark-to-market" relief for financial firms, as banks and life insurers continue grappling with deteriorating investment holdings.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board last week began steps to loosen a rule regarding when financial firms must book losses on a narrowly defined subset of lower-rated mortgage-backed securities, commercial-backed securities and certain other structured securities.

For those financial firms that hold the relatively small group of securities at issue, managements and their auditors would have more leeway to put off a potential write-down that would clip net income. That could help bolster their regulatory capital.

The possible rule revision falls far short of what banking and insurance executives were seeking because they wanted relief that would give them greater leeway in valuing a wider range of securities. But it illustrates how aggressive they have become in trying to stave off paper losses. Analysts are still trying to figure out which companies might own the particular securities at issue."

Unfortunately, the move seems to be coming as far too little, too late. If, some fourteen months ago, FASB had allowed performing securities to be marked at their economic value, rather than the instantaneous trading value, which might be zero, much of the last year's carnage could have been avoided.

However, by waiting too long, intangible losses became tangible writedowns, which restricted credit, investment and, eventually has led to a reduction in real economic activity.

Talk about the tail wagging the dog....