More financial data due from companies

Abstract

One of the most concrete results of U.S. chemical companies' deeper involvement in public issues in the past decade has been a big increase in companies' disclosure of financial data on their operations. Though often argued heatedly and sometimes resolved only through court battles, steps over the past few years toward greater disclosure have increased steadily the public view of companies' activities. Some company features now reported routinely to shareholders were spotty at best 10 to 15 years ago. Such items include performance of individual company divisions, R&D spending, minority hiring, foreign investment, pollution control spending, gains and losses in non-U.S. currency dealings, lease expenses, and pension funding. Another major, if more indirect, increase in company disclosure is in the offing now that the U.S. Supreme Court has stopped the last industry move to block it. By refusing to review a lower court decision earlier this month, the Supreme Court opened the way for the ...