Good quality financial statements typically contain comparable and reliable information, which depends in turn on the accounting standards being used. In this respect, IFRS can help ensure that financial reporting is prepared under accepted principles that convey a true and fair view of the financial position. BIS Review 114/2007  1  For the banking sector, the most important accounting standard is the IAS 39 because it deals specifically with financial instruments. The standard assures that financial instruments are correctly recognized and measured in the financial statements, to reflect the true financial position and performance, as well as the related risk exposure. Under IAS 39, there is important change to the accounting for derivative transactions, in which banks need to markto-market and record all derivatives on their balance sheets, as well as classify them as held for trading, unless they are used as hedging instruments. Previously, all derivative transactions are kept off the balance sheet, and hence from the recognition of external stakeholders or even bank management. IAS 39, therefore, brings off-balance sheet items into the spotlight. Apart from IAS 39, commercial banks also need to comply with the accounting standards concerning financial instrument’s presentation (IAS 32) and disclosure (IFRS 7), which require banks to present their financial statements in an appropriate format, and to disclose information sufficiently regarding financial instruments and risk. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bank of Thailand has taken a careful timing to implement both standards in Thailand.
4  Immediate concerns and inherent vulnerabilities Against this prospect of net long-term benefits, and indeed if the NMS are to maximize the benefits of euro adoption, they will have to continue making substantial reforms to their economic, financial and social systems. While such changes are in themselves necessary to ensure a smooth adoption of the euro, they will continue to be endogenously engendered once these countries become members of the euro area. In the meantime, however, these reforms are posing major challenges to a number of NMS and are exposing vulnerabilities which, if not addressed, could threaten their successful participation in the euro area. In the course of this seminar first-hand accounts of such challenges, and of the policy responses to deal with them, will no doubt reveal the rich diversity of country situations within an enlarged EU. Some challenges, however, will be common to most new NMS. One such is the need to catch up in terms of per capita income levels with euro area countries. In several NMS this catching-up process is taking place in good part due to the relatively low wage levels and high rates of return on capital in these countries relative to euro area economies. These characteristics of the real sector are creating challenges from a nominal convergence viewpoint. Chief among them are the issues of real exchange rate appreciation and the need to cope with large, and potentially volatile capital inflows.