From Nextgov.com: SEC mandates open standard for financial records

Requiring public companies to file documents in XBRL could improve oversight of financial markets and change the way stocks are analyzed, investment professionals say.

The Securities and Exchange Commission passed a rule on Thursday requiring public companies and mutual funds to use a standard electronic format to publish financial information, bringing more transparency, and presumably oversight, to corporate balance sheets and earnings.

Read the full story on Nextgov.com.