Measuring the Level of Accounting Conservatism in Financial Statements and Reports and Its Effects On the Share Market Value An Empirical Study of Corporate Companies listed at Palestinian Security Exchange

This study aimed to measure the level of accounting conservatism in financial statements and reports issued by corporate companies listed at Palestinian Security Exchange and to show the effect of accounting conservatism on the share market value. In order to achieve the study objectives, The (Beaver and Ryan, 2000) model and (Basu, 1997) model were used to measure the accounting conservatism. The study was applied on a sample of 31 Palestinian corporations listed at Palestinian Security Exchange during the period 2005-2012. The results of the study showed that the level of accounting conservatism in financial statements and reports issued by Palestinian companies is low. Moreover, the study also found that financial reports of insurance and banks sectors in Palestinian Stock Exchange are the most conservative, whereas the investment sector was the least conservative. Finally, the level of accounting conservatism affects positively on the share market value. The study recommended the need to activate the role played by the financial market regulator to activate control over the financial reporting and to force companies to increase the levels of conservatism within reasonable levels. The study also recommended that external auditors should point out how companies are committed with the adequacy of conservatism level in financial statements and reports.