Taking Stock

IN A PROFESSION WHOSE IDEA OF EXCITEMENT IS sharpening a bundle of No. 2 pencils, last Wednesday's meeting of the Financial Accounting Standards Board was the equivalent of Woodstock. At a rare standing-room-only gathering captured by even rarer camera crews, the FASB decided by a 6-to-1 vote to force companies to deduct from their earnings the value of stock options awarded to managers. Stock incentives, which account for as much as 90% of corporate executive income, have come under attack by critics of excessive pay. The rule change, which could reduce declared profits as much as 48%, should discourage companies from being so generous. The decision was opposed by business groups, big investors, some legislators and the Big Six accounting firms. In a bow to these opponents, the new rule won't take effect until 1997.