In today's volatile, complex and fast-moving business world, it can be difficult to gauge how sound a company really is. An apparently strong balance sheet and impressive reported profits may be hiding all sorts of problems that could even spell bankruptcy. So how do you: - know whether a company is well run and doing well? - decide which ratios and benchmarks to use to assess performance? - work out if a company has massaged its results? - recognise the danger signs on the corporate horizon? - compare companies operating in different sectors or countries? these and many other important questions are answered in a completely updated and revised sixth edition of this clear and comprehensive guide. It is aimed at anyone who wants to understand a company's annual report, judge a customer's creditworthiness, assess a company's investment potential, and much more.