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Conference nyoss1::market_investing

Title:Market Investing
Moderator:2155::michaud
Created:Thu Jan 23 1992
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1060
Total number of notes:10477

503.0. "Disclosure and Ethics" by CASPRO::LMARINO () Tue Jun 22 1993 12:11

    I am taking a business ethics course, I need to debate a question that
    I disagree with and since it relates to stockholders, stakeholders,
    etc.  I thought someone here might have some ideas for me to pursue.
    
    Under any reasonable definition of "business ethics" businesses must
    make full, fair and timely disclosure of the current and prospective
    state of their business to all stakeholders (shareholders, employees,
    vendors, etc.).  This responsibility can not be mitigated by the
    adverse nature of any such disclosure nor can mangement abrogate it
    through failure to inform themselves.  Deniability is not an ethical
    strategy.  It is inherently unethical for mangement to enrich
    themselves and harm their stakeholders through failure to meet this
    responsibility.
    
    
    How do you disagree with that?
    
    
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503.1CSC32::S_MAUFEthis space for rentTue Jun 22 1993 14:0714
    
    national security and the CIA's airline? other than that you picked the
    wrong side of the argument. You could argue against giving out
    competitive information, but the middle sentence negates that line of
    reasoning.
    
    Also, you could argue whether timely but incomplete information might
    panic stockholders, whereas waiting a week for a more detailed
    statement might be the better option, ala the Pepsi scare.
    
    Or, if you were to release some adverse information about a new drug a
    day before an option expires, perhaps you should wait a day.
    
    I'd ask the question in JOYOFLEX, where you get a lot of debaters.
503.2Let's not tell'em where the bombs dropNOVA::FINNERTYSell high, buy lowTue Jun 22 1993 14:1815
    
    Full disclosure; what does this mean?  
    
    Clearly it does not mean "full disclosure" in the literal sense, since
    information passes not only to shareholders but to competitors as well,
    which is contrary to the interests of the shareholders.  If I had to
    argue the 'hard' side of the argument, I'd make the case that
    information that helps analysts understand the sources of competitive 
    strengths and weaknesses only helps the competitors and hurts the
    shareholders.
    
    (maybe you can even do this with a straight face)
    
       ;)
     
503.3BRAT::REDZIN::DCOXWed Jun 23 1993 07:4211
    As long as the statement takes the position that "state of their
    business" refers to FINANCIAL state (and that is the currently accepted
    understanding in Investment and Regulatory communities) and that
    "timely" refers to quarterly reports in general with non-scheduled
    announcements due to extraordinary events (again, normal
    understanding), I agree with the statement.
    
    I could argue against the statement (any decent debator should be able
    to assume either position), but not even half-heartedly. 
    
    Dave
503.4THANKSCASPRO::LMARINOWed Jun 23 1993 13:465
    Thanks for the help.  re:3  You're right a decent debator could
    probably handle this one, things is I am a beginner.  Thanks for
    the input.  I appreciate the help.