In 2005 all publicly-listed European firms will be obliged to present their financial results using the 'fair value method'. Traditional accounting practices will be replaced by a new methodology in which market values play a prominent role. It is expected that the importance of market values will continue to increase even further in the more distant future.Firms, investors, analysts and other interested parties think much more in terms of (expected) cash flows and risks now. Traditional prof...

In 2005 all publicly-listed European firms will be obliged to present their financial results using the 'fair value method'. Traditional accounting practices will be replaced by a new methodology in which market values play a prominent role. It is expected that the importance of market values will continue to increase even further in the more distant future.

Firms, investors, analysts and other interested parties think much more in terms of (expected) cash flows and risks now. This shift in or...