Quarterly reporting revisited

IS there a need to rethink the rules for quarterly reporting (QR)? The question is relevant following news this week that the Singapore Exchange (SGX) may relook the practice and may seek feedback from the public. The answer, however, depends on who you ask.

Proponents of transparency and better governance say it forces companies to communicate regularly with shareholders and is therefore indispensable.

Many corporate bosses and financial controllers of smaller companies, on the other hand, would argue that it places undue pressure on senior management to "manage'' their number, encourages short-termism, possibly increases share price volatility and, last but not least, costs too much because figures have to be collated and issued every 90 days.