The proposals would require an entity to state in tabular form the fair value, amortised cost, and amount at which the investments are actually carried in the financial statements.
The amendments would also require an entity to also disclose the effect on profit or loss and equity if all debt instruments had been accounted for at fair value or at amortised cost.
The IASB believes that the proposed disclosures will 'allow greater comparability between investments in debt instruments held with and by different entities, and so enhance investors' confidence in the financial markets'. The FASB is making similar disclosure proposals.
The proposals are set out in an exposure draft Investments in Debt Instruments, on which comments are due by 15 January 2009. The exposure draft can be downloaded from the IASB's website. Click for press release (PDF 50k).