a) The following ratios have been extracted from an analysis of the accounts of three companies – North, South and East:   Required: Comment on the respective performance of each of the three companies.

What are the qualitative characteristics of financial statements according to the Framework? Qualitative characteristics are broad classes of financial effects of transactions and other events Qualitative characteristics are the attributes that make the information provided in financial statements useful to others. Qualitative characteristics measure the extent to which an entity has complied with all relevant Standards and Interpretations. Qualitative characteristics are non-quantitative aspects of an entity’s position and performance and changes in financial position

Which of the following is an assumption made in the preparation of the financial statements? Select one: a. The current market value is assumed to be less relevant than the original cost paid. b. Financial statements are prepared for a specific entity that is distinct from the entity's owners. c. The preparation of financial statements for a specific time period assumes that the balance sheet covers a designated period of time. d. Financial statements are prepared assuming that inflation

Question: When preparing financial statements, which involve the culmination of various accounting principles and concepts, the process is crucial in portraying a company's financial health and performance. Among the key components, the income statement and the balance sheet stand as fundamental snapshots. The income statement delineates a company's revenues, expenses, and ultimately its profitability over a specific period, employing either the accrual basis or cash basis accounting. On the other hand, the balance sheet provides an overview of a company's assets, liabilities, and shareholders' equity at a given point in time, adhering to the accounting equation where assets are equal to liabilities plus shareholders' equity. Furthermore, the matching principle necessitates that expenses be recorded in the same period as the related revenues they helped generate, facilitating a more accurate representation of the company's financial performance.   In the context of accounting…