Investment gains/losses (Detail) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Investment gains/losses [Line Items]
Investment gains/losses	$ 100	$ 473	$ 1,488	$ 2,174
Insurance and Other [Member]
Investment gains/losses [Line Items]
Investment gains/losses	100	473	1,314	2,169
Finance and Financial Products [Member]
Investment gains/losses [Line Items]
Investment gains/losses			174	5
Fixed Maturities [Member]
Investment gains/losses [Line Items]
Gross gains from sales and other disposals	31	19	207	587
Gross losses from sales and other disposals	(1)	(9)	(5)	(12)
Equity Securities and Other Investments [Member]
Investment gains/losses [Line Items]
Gross gains from sales and other disposals	40	522	1,308	857
Gross losses from sales and other disposals	(5)	(76)	(19)	(265)
Other Investment Gains / Losses [Member]
Investment gains/losses [Line Items]
Investment gains/losses	$ 35	$ 17	$ (3)	$ 1,007

- Definition

This item represents the net total realized and unrealized gain (loss) included in earnings for the period as a result of selling or holding marketable securities categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity, including the unrealized holding gain (loss) of held-to-maturity securities transferred to the trading security category and the cumulative unrealized gain (loss) which was included in other comprehensive income (a separate component of shareholders' equity) for available-for-sale securities transferred to trading securities during the period. Additionally, this item would include any gains (losses) realized during the period from the sale of investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting.

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