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.