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This study examines whether investors take into consideration the balance sheet numbers when determining the market value of companies. Specifically, an investigation is made of the association between the book value of equity and the value placed on the firm by the stock market. An equity valuation model first mentioned by Landsman (1986), based on the balance sheet identity, is used to permit assets and liabilities to have separate empirical coefficient values. In scope, the study covers Malaysian main board companies from years 1990 to 1997. Evidence is provided which is consistent with the notion that the market incorporates information on accounting numbers in the valuation of a firm. As a general conclusion, the results indicate that investors do use information in the balance sheet.

This study aimed at investigating the value relevance of book value and earnings and the relationship between earnings and operating cash flow of two different financial reporting regimes in Malaysia. A market and nonmarket valuation approaches were utilised for that purpose. The result of market valuation approach of pool sample shows that book values and earnings are value relevant. We also observed that the change in financial reporting regime affects significantly the value relevance of book value and but not earnings. While book value and earnings are value relevant during the MASB period, only book value is value relevance during the FRS period. The result of non‐market valuation approach on the other hand, shows that the change in financial reporting regime has no significant effect on the relationship between earnings and operating cash flow. The result of market valuation approach implicates that the introduction of new or improved standards under FRS regime strengthen the position of book value thus leaving earnings behind in equity valuation. The result of non‐market valuation model implicates that the level of relationship between earnings and operating cash flow persists as long as operating cash flow comprise of cash and cash equivalent components whereas earnings comprise of cash and accruals components. The study contributes to the existing literature in the area of the effect of adoption of FRS on value relevance of accounting numbers in Malaysia.