Accounting for Panic (Accounting Standard ASC 830)

Accounting for Panic

Today the Bridge The GAAP – Accounting Podcast discusses recent volatility in securities markets.  We’re going to discuss the topic by building a bridge that connects the dramatic drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average earlier this past week, Accounting Standard ASC 830, and the Ghost in the Machine.

We start off by discussing the dramatic sell-off activity in the markets this week, including the fact that on Monday, August 24th, the DJIA at one time was down by more than 1,000 points, representing more than a 6.5% drop in value.  In order to frame the discussion, we start of by describing exactly how the Dow is calculated and give a little bit of history on the subject.  Then we look at Apple’s drop on Monday and calculate its portion of the DJIA’s drop.

While analysts and economists have been attempting to explain the activity, much of the conversation has included the Federal Reserve Rate, Asian markets, commodities prices, and the devaluation of the Yuan, China’s currency.  So for our conversation, we focus on that devaluation factor.

The factor is discussed within the framework of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 830, which addresses how to account for foreign currency matters.  So we take a hypothetical transaction from Apple’s perspective and look at how the devaluation of the Yuan would impact that single transaction, using the previous exchange rate and the current exchange rate, in order to provide an illustration for how this can affect companies in the DJIA and others as well.

Today the Bridge The GAAP – Accounting Podcast discusses recent volatility in securities markets.  We’re going to discuss the topic by building a bridge that connects the dramatic drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average earlier this past week, Accounting Standard ASC 830, and the Ghost in the Machine.

We start off by discussing the dramatic sell-off activity in the markets this week, including the fact that on Monday, August 24th, the DJIA at one time was down by more than 1,000 points, representing more than a 6.5% drop in value.  In order to frame the discussion, we start of by describing exactly how the Dow is calculated and give a little bit of history on the subject.  Then we look at Apple’s drop on Monday and calculate its portion of the drop.

While analysts and economists have been attempting to explain the activity, much of the conversation has included the Federal Reserve Rate, Asian markets, commodities prices, and the devaluation of the Yuan, China’s currency.  So for our conversation, we focus on that devaluation factor.

The factor is discussed within the framework of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 830, which addresses how to account for foreign currency matters.  So we take a hypothetical transaction from Apple’s perspective and look at how the devaluation of the Yuan would impact that single transaction, using the previous exchange rate and the current exchange rate, in order to provide an illustration for how this can affect companies in the DJIA and others as well.

Finally, the podcast includes a discussion of Arthur Koestler’s book The Ghost in the Machine in order to present some of the psychology behind panicked reactions.

Accounting for Artificial Intelligence (and Accounting Standard ASC 840)

Accounting for Aritificial Intelligence

Today the topic of our Bridge The GAAP – Accounting Podcast is faithful representation.  We’re going to discuss the topic by building a bridge that connects the ideas of testing artificial intelligence, Topic 840 of the Accounting Standards Codification, and skyscrapers in Chicago.

We start off by discussing Alan Turing’s famous “Imitation Game,” which is now typically called the “Turing Test,” and is used as a measurement of artificial intelligence.  The approach that Turing used to answer the question serves as a tool to relate the three topics of this podcast.

As we discuss Accounting Standard ASC 840, we will cover the difference between capital leases and operating leases, including the four criteria that are considered in determining for a lessee whether a lease is a capital lease.  We’ll also discuss direct financing type leases and sales type leases from the perspective of the lessor.

The podcast includes a brief discussion about Louis Sullivan, who is considered to be the “Father of the Skyscraper” and some of his thoughts regarding the consideration that form follows function.

View the Bridge the GAAP – Accounting Podcast in iTunes.

Accounting for Teeth (with Accounting Standard ASC 820)

Accounting for Teeth

Today the topic of our Bridge The GAAP – Accounting Podcast is fair value.  We’re going to discuss the concept fair value through the prism of several unusual commdoties in the South Pacific, including spinner dolphins’ teeth.  By doing so, we will also shed light on the meaning of fair value and some of the questions raised by its consideration.

Along the way we’ll discuss the requirements of Accounting Standard ASC 820, which defines fair value and creates a framework for its measurement and reporting.  We’ll discuss the fair value hierarchy, which is established under ASC 820 as well.

The podcast includes a brief look at the 10-K filing of Birner Dental Management Services, Inc., which uses the trademark name PERFECT TEETH and provides a convenient example of a liability measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs under the fair value hierarchy.

There’s even a brief discussion about some of the philosophy of Adam Smith.  Enjoy!