This 2001 Annual Report reviews economic developments in the world during FY2000. Output growth in emerging Asia picked up in 2000 as this region continued its recovery from the 1997–98 crisis. The pace of economic expansion, however, slowed from mid-2000, largely as a result of the U.S. slowdown, higher oil prices, a decline in regional equity markets, and, in some countries, concerns about delays of corporate and financial restructuring and a decline in electronics exports. The financial year 2001 saw the IMF actively engaged in the process of reform.

For courses in Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting, Financial Statement Analysis, Introduction to Business, or MBA finance courses. Understanding the Corporate Annual Report: Nuts, Bolts, and A Few Loose Screws provides a clearly written, step-by-step guide to understanding corporate annual reports. Authors Fraser and Ormiston instruct readers on how to ignore the PR letters from the corporate management team, engaging graphics, and other "garnishes" that typically accompany current annual reports in order to focus on what really counts--a company's performance and financial health! Throughout the text, the authors examine management's attempts to manipulate earnings and other performance measures, and they explain what the numbers in the report really mean.