In addition to analyzing 33 firms with accounting irregularities, Weiss Ratings also studied audits issued to 228 companies that later filed for bankruptcy between Jan. 1, 2001, and June 30, 2002. In this group, Weiss found that auditors gave a clean bill of health to 96 of the bankrupt companies.

Weiss noted that an auditor has a responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time.

While the Weiss analysis found that "going concern" warnings were issued on the majority of the companies that subsequently filed for bankruptcy during their regular audits, or 58 percent, the study found that audit firms varied in their ability to detect potential problems.

Weiss found, for example, that while KPMG performed the audits of the least number of the companies that filed for bankruptcy (28 of the 228), the firm gave warnings on 43 percent of the firms it looked at. On the other hand, PricewatehouseCoopers, which reviewed 38 of the 228 now-bankrupt companies, correctly issued warnings on 63 percent. Arthur Andersen scored about average, identifying problems among 27, or 56 percent, of the 48 companies they audited that subsequently filed for bankruptcy.

The 96 companies that eventually filed for bankruptcy despite receiving stamps of approval from their auditors had a peak market capitalization of $226 billion-- nearly all of which has now been lost by shareholders, according to Weiss.

Commenting on the analysis of the 33 companies that disclosed accounting irregularities after their audits (six of which also filed for bankruptcy after the irregularities were revealed), Weiss noted that the stock values of the companies dropped from a total peak market value of $1.8 trillion to only $527 billion.

The decline implies an aggregate loss to shareholders of almost $1.3 trillion, the firm said in a statement announcing the report, adding that the stock declines were due to various factors, including the accounting problems.

Only PricewaterhouseCoopers issued a "going concern" warning on any of the 33 companies involved in the accounting irregularities?issuing two warnings among the seven audits it completed in this category, according to Weiss' analysis.

The study, which is available to consumers, was also sent to the U.S. Senate just as it began debate over new oversight rules for the accounting industry.

Its findings include a qualitative analysis of whether there was enough evidence at the time of audits to suggest that auditors missed legitimate warnings.

Focusing on 45 companies that failed within 12 months of their audits, the analysis found that two or more "yellow flags" were evident for 40 of them at the time of their audits, with only one company exhibiting no yellow flags. (The report lists 14 "yellow flags" or ratios that are generally viewed as useful predictors of failure.)

Weiss issues safety ratings on more than 15,000 financial institutions, including securities brokers, banks, insurers and HMOs.

Consumers can view the complete text of Dr. Weiss' white paper on the Weiss Ratings Web site at www.WeissRatings.com/worsening_crisis.asp.