Two excerpts from the draft report:

Measurement: In inactive markets, entities measure the fair value of financial instruments by considering all relevant market information that is available. A thorough understanding of the instrument subject to valuation is necessary in order to identify relevant available information. Information to be considered includes prices from recent transactions in the same or similar instruments, quotes from brokers and pricing services, indices and other inputs to model-based valuation techniques. Entities use this information to measure fair value by assessing the available information and applying it as appropriate.

Disclosure: It is important that entities help users of financial statements understand the techniques used and the judgements made in measuring fair value (although it is not the purpose of the disclosure to allow recalculation of fair values). Providing enhanced and detailed disclosures about the fair value of instruments that are of particular interest to users helps entities meet that objective. The instruments of particular interest will change over time as market conditions change and are likely to include those that are the focus of internal management reporting and are receiving external market interest.

There are two reasons why it is important to complete the projects by 2011. First, a number of countries, such as Canada, India, Japan, and Korea, have announced plans to adopt or converge with IFRSs beginning in 2011. If the projects are completed by 2011, those countries will avoid having to adopt new standards shortly after making the transition to IFRSs. Second, in accordance with its proposed IFRS Roadmap, the SEC will determine in 2011 whether to require mandatory adoption of IFRSs for all US issuers starting in 2014. In doing so, it will evaluate the progress of the various milestones included in that roadmap, one of which is improvements to IFRSs.

The turmoil has exposed a chronic lack of private sector discipline and competence and some weaknesses in the global financial regulatory framework. We must strengthen market and institutional resilience. This is what the ECOFIN Roadmap of October 2007 is designed to do....

The upgrading of valuation methods, in particular with respect to the valuation of illiquid assets. Work is being led by the Basle Committee and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), who have established a panel on fair valuation. Advice is expected by the end of the third quarter of 2008. The IASB is also working on off-balance sheet items with the key question being: when should an entity be brought onto another entity's balance sheet? The input received in these meetings will help the IASB in shaping its forthcoming proposals on reviewing consolidation rules under IFRS. Deliverables are expected in 2009. Proper due process must be carried out. I believe we need to look hard at issues such as dynamic provisioning* – and how to account for prudential reserves built up by banks to buffer for bad times. It should not have escaped people's attention that banks in Spain were better placed to withstand the turmoil because they had not yet adopted the relevant IFRS Standard. There is a lesson there that needs to be drawn....

On accounting, SEC Chairman Cox has unveiled a roadmap where US companies would switch from US GAAP to IFRS by 2014. Unthinkable only two years ago! A dramatic signal indeed. Following the EU's lead, the US is indicating it also wants to choose global standards. One set, in sight, at last. And of course we need to strengthen the governance of the IASB. That is why we are working hard with some of our major counterparts to install new, strengthened oversight mechanisms.

*IAS Plus comment: Dynamic provisioning refers to loan loss provisions measured on the basis of expected future losses rather than incurred losses.