GLOBAL - The International Accounting Standards Board has added post-retirement benefits, including pensions, to its latest research agenda.

According to the most recent IASB work plan, the project is among seven areas for study under a memorandum of understanding with the US's Financial Accounting Standards Board. This seeks the convergence of International Financial Reporting Standards with the US's Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

"The Work Plan below has been updated following the decisions made at the IASB June meeting and reflects the objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding with the FASB which sets out a Roadmap for Convergence between IFRS and US GAAP between 2006 and 2008," says the IASB web site.

Last month the UK's Accounting Standards Board said it was undertaking a similar project to "reconsider the fundamental principles of pensions accounting".

The IASB effort will look at issues such as smoothing and cash balance plans.

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