Capital Briefs: D'Amato Backs FASB on Derivatives

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Alfonse M. D'Amato said he opposes legislation that would interfere with the Financial Accounting Standards Board's new derivatives rule.

"Congress should not disrupt FASB's independence and professionalism," the New York Republican said on the Senate floor.

Neither Congress nor the Securities and Exchange Commission has the "technical expertise" to set accounting rules, Sen. D'Amato added, while bank regulators "lack the impartiality."

The FASB is scheduled to adopt rules this month requiring companies to reflect the market value of derivatives on quarterly statements. After protests from the banking industry, the FASB pushed the effective date back six months to June 15, 1999.

Bankers have complained in Congress that the rule will distort earnings. But Sen. D'Amato, echoing FASB and SEC officials, said, "There are billions of dollars worth of derivatives outstanding that are not reflected adequately" in financial statements.

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