Disclosure of financial instruments according to International Accounting Standards: empirical evidence from Brazilian companies

Abstract

This article analyzes the level of disclosure of financial instruments in the financial statements of Brazilian companies in light of the requirements of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). We examined the annual reports of a sample of 24 nonfinancial firms provided to the Brazilian and the American capital markets for the years from 2002 to 2006. The main results are that the reports to the Brazilian market have an average disclosure level that it statistically inferior to the level of the reports released to the American market, and firms in regulated sectors, firms with a longer history of issuing ADRs and larger firms show higher levels of disclosure.