Ian Blance Consulting

The valuation of financial assets – particularly complex instruments such as asset backed securities and derivatives – are facing unprecedented scrutiny from policy makers, regulators and standard setters.  This places increased pressure on those who produce and use valuations, and those who audit and advise them, to ensure that the value they choose is both appropriate and justifiable.

In this timely new report, IBC review the various methods and types of valuations available to users who are required to value holdings of financial assets, assessing the pros and cons, and highlighting the issues to be aware of when using each method.  We also provide recommendations as to which method is most appropriate for certain asset types.

The second part of the report then surveys the multitude of sources providing these valuations, ranging from stock exchanges and other venues for trade data through quotation services and commercial evaluation vendors for OTC assets.  In each area the major players and their service offering are briefly reviewed followed by a summary of the smaller operators in that sector.  In all the report provides a comprehensive overview of the external sources of valuations available to users.