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Fair values of financial instruments carried at fair value
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Fair Value Measurement [Abstract]  
Fair values of financial instruments carried at fair value
12
Fair values of financial instruments carried at fair value
Control framework
Fair values are subject to a control framework designed to ensure that they are either determined or validated by a function independent of the risk taker.
Where fair values are determined by reference to externally quoted prices or observable pricing inputs to models, independent price determination or validation is used. For inactive markets, HSBC sources alternative market information, with greater weight given to information that is considered to be more relevant and reliable. Examples of the factors considered are price observability, instrument comparability, consistency of data sources, underlying data accuracy and timing of prices.
For fair values determined using valuation models, the control framework includes development or validation by independent support functions of the model logic, inputs, model outputs and adjustments. Valuation models are subject to a process of due diligence before becoming operational and are calibrated against external market data on an ongoing basis.
Changes in fair value are generally subject to a profit and loss analysis process and are disaggregated into high-level categories including portfolio changes, market movements and other fair value adjustments.
The majority of financial instruments measured at fair value are in GBM. GBM’s fair value governance structure comprises its Finance function, Valuation Committees and a Valuation Committee Review Group. Finance is responsible for establishing procedures governing valuation and ensuring fair values are in compliance with accounting standards. The fair values are reviewed by the Valuation Committees, which consist of independent support functions. These committees are overseen by the Valuation Committee Review Group, which considers all material subjective valuations.
Financial liabilities measured at fair value
In certain circumstances, HSBC records its own debt in issue at fair value, based on quoted prices in an active market for the specific instrument. When quoted market prices are unavailable, the own debt in issue is valued using valuation techniques, the inputs for which are either based on quoted prices in an inactive market for the instrument or are estimated by comparison with quoted prices in an active market for similar instruments. In both cases, the fair value includes the effect of applying the credit spread that is appropriate to HSBC’s liabilities. The change in fair value of issued debt securities attributable to the Group’s own credit spread is computed as follows: for each security at each reporting date, an externally verifiable price is obtained or a price is derived using credit spreads for similar securities for the same issuer. Then, using discounted cash flow, each security is valued using an appropriate market discount curve. The difference in the valuations is attributable to the Group’s own credit spread. This methodology is applied consistently across all securities.
Structured notes issued and certain other hybrid instruments are reported as financial liabilities designated at fair value. The credit spread applied to these instruments is derived from the spreads at which HSBC issues structured notes.
Gains and losses arising from changes in the credit spread of liabilities issued by HSBC, recorded in other comprehensive income, reverse over the contractual life of the debt, provided that the debt is not repaid at a premium or a discount.
Fair value hierarchy
Fair values of financial assets and liabilities are determined according to the following hierarchy:
Level 1 – valuation technique using quoted market price. These are financial instruments with quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets that HSBC can access at the measurement date.
Level 2 – valuation technique using observable inputs. These are financial instruments with quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in inactive markets and financial instruments valued using models where all significant inputs are observable.
Level 3 – valuation technique with significant unobservable inputs. These are financial instruments valued using valuation techniques where one or more significant inputs are unobservable.
Financial instruments carried at fair value and bases of valuation
20222021
Level 1Level 2Level 3TotalLevel 1Level 2Level 3Total
$m$m$m$m$m$m$m$m
Recurring fair value measurements at 31 Dec
Assets
Trading assets148,592 64,684 4,817 218,093 180,423 65,757 2,662 248,842 
Financial assets designated and otherwise mandatorily measured at fair value through profit or loss15,978 13,019 16,066 45,063 17,937 17,629 14,238 49,804 
Derivatives2,917 279,265 1,964 284,146 2,783 191,621 2,478 196,882 
Financial investments182,231 71,621 2,965 256,817 247,745 97,838 3,389 348,972 
Liabilities
Trading liabilities44,787 27,092 474 72,353 63,437 20,682 785 84,904 
Financial liabilities designated at fair value1,130 115,765 10,432 127,327 1,379 136,243 7,880 145,502 
Derivatives2,400 280,444 2,920 285,764 1,686 186,290 3,088 191,064 
The table below provides the fair value levelling of assets held for sale and liabilities of disposal groups that have been classified as held for sale in accordance with IFRS 5. For further details, see Note 23.
Financial instruments carried at fair value and bases of valuation – assets and liabilities held for sale
20222021
Level 1Level 2Level 3TotalLevel 1Level 2Level 3Total
$m$m$m$m$m$m$m$m
Recurring fair value measurements at 31 Dec
Assets
Trading assets2,932 244  3,176 — — — — 
Financial assets designated and otherwise mandatorily measured at fair value through profit or loss 14 47 61 — — — — 
Derivatives 866  866 — — — — 
Financial investments11,184   11,184 — — — — 
Liabilities
Trading liabilities2,572 182  2,754 — — — — 
Financial liabilities designated at fair value 3,523  3,523 — — — — 
Derivatives 813  813 — — — — 
Transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 fair values
AssetsLiabilities
Financial
investments
Trading
assets
Designated and otherwise
mandatorily measured
at fair value
DerivativesTrading
liabilities
Designated
at fair value
Derivatives
$m$m$m$m$m$m$m
At 31 Dec 2022
Transfers from Level 1 to Level 24,721 5,284 743  113   
Transfers from Level 2 to Level 18,208 5,964 1,214  233   
At 31 Dec 2021
Transfers from Level 1 to Level 28,477 6,553 1,277 103 181 — 212 
Transfers from Level 2 to Level 16,007 4,132 768 — 638 — — 
Transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy are deemed to occur at the end of each quarterly reporting period. Transfers into and out of levels of the fair value hierarchy are primarily attributable to observability of valuation inputs and price transparency.
Fair value adjustments
We adopt the use of fair value adjustments when we take into consideration additional factors not incorporated within the valuation model that would otherwise be considered by a market participant. We classify fair value adjustments as either ‘risk-related’ or ‘model-related’. The majority of these adjustments relate to GBM. Movements in the level of fair value adjustments do not necessarily result in the recognition of profits or losses within the income statement. For example, as models are enhanced, fair value adjustments may no longer be required. Similarly, fair value adjustments will decrease when the related positions are unwound, but this may not result in profit or loss.
Global Banking and Markets fair value adjustments
20222021
GBMCorporate
Centre
GBMCorporate
Centre
$m$m$m$m
Type of adjustment
Risk-related 650 40 868 42 
– bid-offer 426  412 — 
– uncertainty 86  66 
– credit valuation adjustment245 35 228 35 
– debit valuation adjustment(175) (92)— 
– funding fair value adjustment68 5 254 
Model-related 61  57 — 
– model limitation 61  57 — 
Inception profit (Day 1 P&L reserves)97  106 — 
At 31 Dec808 40 1,031 42 

The reduction in fair value adjustments was driven by changes to derivative exposures and the credit environment, including HSBC’s own credit.
Bid-offer
IFRS 13 ‘Fair Value Measurement’ requires the use of the price within the bid-offer spread that is most representative of fair value. Valuation models will typically generate mid-market values. The bid-offer adjustment reflects the extent to which bid-offer costs would be incurred if substantially all residual net portfolio market risks were closed using available hedging instruments or by disposing of or unwinding the position.
Uncertainty
Certain model inputs may be less readily determinable from market data and/or the choice of model itself may be more subjective. In these circumstances, an adjustment may be necessary to reflect the likelihood that market participants would adopt more conservative values for uncertain parameters and/or model assumptions than those used in HSBC’s valuation model.
Credit and debit valuation adjustments
The credit valuation adjustment (‘CVA’) is an adjustment to the valuation of over-the-counter (‘OTC’) derivative contracts to reflect the possibility that the counterparty may default and that HSBC may not receive the full market value of the transactions.
The debit valuation adjustment (‘DVA’) is an adjustment to the valuation of OTC derivative contracts to reflect the possibility that HSBC may default, and that it may not pay the full market value of the transactions.
HSBC calculates a separate CVA and DVA for each legal entity, and for each counterparty to which the entity has exposure. With the exception of central clearing parties, all third-party counterparties are included in the CVA and DVA calculations, and these adjustments are not netted across Group entities.
HSBC calculates the CVA by applying the probability of default (‘PD’) of the counterparty, conditional on the non-default of HSBC, to HSBC’s expected positive exposure to the counterparty and multiplying the result by the loss expected in the event of default. Conversely, HSBC calculates the DVA by applying the PD of HSBC, conditional on the non-default of the counterparty, to the expected positive exposure of the counterparty to HSBC and multiplying the result by the loss expected in the event of default. Both calculations are performed over the life of the potential exposure.
For most products HSBC uses a simulation methodology, which incorporates a range of potential exposures over the life of the portfolio, to calculate the expected positive exposure to a counterparty. The simulation methodology includes credit mitigants, such as counterparty netting agreements and collateral agreements with the counterparty.
The methodologies do not, in general, account for ‘wrong-way risk’. Wrong-way risk is an adverse correlation between the counterparty’s probability of default and the mark-to-market value of the underlying transaction. The risk can either be general, perhaps related to the currency of the issuer country, or specific to the transaction concerned. When there is significant wrong-way risk, a trade-specific approach is applied to reflect this risk in the valuation.
Funding fair value adjustment
The funding fair value adjustment (‘FFVA’) is calculated by applying future market funding spreads to the expected future funding exposure of any uncollateralised component of the OTC derivative portfolio. The expected future funding exposure is calculated by a simulation methodology, where available, and is adjusted for events that may terminate the exposure, such as the default of HSBC or the counterparty. The FFVA and DVA are calculated independently.
Model limitation
Models used for portfolio valuation purposes may be based upon a simplified set of assumptions that do not capture all current and future material market characteristics. In these circumstances, model limitation adjustments are adopted.
Inception profit (Day 1 P&L reserves)
Inception profit adjustments are adopted when the fair value estimated by a valuation model is based on one or more significant unobservable inputs. The accounting for inception profit adjustments is discussed in Note 1.
Fair value valuation bases
Financial instruments measured at fair value using a valuation technique with significant unobservable inputs – Level 3
AssetsLiabilities
Financial investmentsTrading assetsDesignated and otherwise mandatorily measured at fair value through profit or lossDerivativesTotalTrading liabilitiesDesignated at fair valueDerivativesTotal
$m$m$m$m$m$m$m$m$m
Private equity including strategic investments 647 19 15,652  16,318 92   92 
Asset-backed securities 438 208 95  741     
Structured notes       10,432  10,432 
Other derivatives    1,964 1,964   2,920 2,920 
Other portfolios 1,880 4,590 319  6,789 382   382 
At 31 Dec 20222,965 4,817 16,066 1,964 25,812 474 10,432 2,920 13,826 
Private equity including strategic investments 544 13,732 — 14,278 — — 
Asset-backed securities 1,008 132 — 1,141 — — — — 
Structured notes — — — — — — 7,879 — 7,879 
Other derivatives — — — 2,478 2,478 — — 3,088 3,088 
Other portfolios 1,837 2,528 505 — 4,870 776 — 777 
At 31 Dec 20213,389 2,662 14,238 2,478 22,767 785 7,880 3,088 11,753 
Level 3 instruments are present in both ongoing and legacy businesses. Loans held for securitisation, derivatives with monolines, certain ‘other derivatives’ and predominantly all Level 3 asset-backed securities are legacy positions. HSBC has the capability to hold these positions.
Private equity including strategic investments
The fair value of a private equity investment (including strategic investments) is estimated on the basis of an analysis of the investee’s financial position and results, risk profile, prospects and other factors; by reference to market valuations for similar entities quoted in an active market; the price at which similar companies have changed ownership; or from published net asset values (‘NAV’) received. If necessary, adjustments are made to the NAV of funds to obtain the best estimate of fair value.
Asset-backed securities
While quoted market prices are generally used to determine the fair value of the asset-backed securities (‘ABSs’), valuation models are used to substantiate the reliability of the limited market data available and to identify whether any adjustments to quoted market prices are required. For certain ABSs, such as residential mortgage-backed securities, the valuation uses an industry standard model with assumptions relating to prepayment speeds, default rates and loss severity based on collateral type, and performance, as appropriate. The valuations output is benchmarked for consistency against observable data for securities of a similar nature.
Structured notes
The fair value of Level 3 structured notes is derived from the fair value of the underlying debt security, and the fair value of the embedded derivative is determined as described in the paragraph below on derivatives. These structured notes comprise principally equity-linked notes issued by HSBC, which provide the counterparty with a return linked to the performance of equity securities and other portfolios.
Examples of the unobservable parameters include long-dated equity volatilities and correlations between equity prices, and interest and foreign exchange rates.
Derivatives
OTC derivative valuation models calculate the present value of expected future cash flows, based upon ‘no arbitrage’ principles. For many vanilla derivative products, the modelling approaches used are standard across the industry. For more complex derivative products, there may be some differences in market practice. Inputs to valuation models are determined from observable market data wherever possible, including prices available from exchanges, dealers, brokers or providers of consensus pricing. Certain inputs may not be observable in the market directly, but can be determined from observable prices via model calibration procedures or estimated from historical data or other sources.
Reconciliation of fair value measurements in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy
Movement in Level 3 financial instruments
AssetsLiabilities
Financial investmentsTrading assetsDesignated and otherwise mandatorily measured at fair value through profit or lossDerivativesTrading liabilitiesDesignated at fair valueDerivatives
$m$m$m$m$m$m$m
At 1 Jan 20223,389 2,662 14,238 2,478 785 7,880 3,088 
Total gains/(losses) recognised in profit or loss (4)(245)159 390 (52)(1,334)1,014 
– net income/(losses) from financial instruments held for trading or managed on a fair value basis (245) 390 (52) 1,014 
– changes in fair value of other financial instruments mandatorily measured at fair value through profit or loss  159   (1,334) 
– gains less losses from financial investments at fair value through other comprehensive income(4)      
Total gains/(losses) recognised in other comprehensive income (‘OCI’)1
(325)(137)(217)(219)(11)(345)(226)
– financial investments: fair value gains/ (losses)(203)    82  
– exchange differences (122)(137)(217)(219)(11)(427)(226)
Purchases 1,048 3,436 4,330  178   
New issuances 1    8 4,183  
Sales (245)(1,102)(783) (152)(94) 
Settlements (463)(1,273)(1,729)(918)(644)182 (993)
Transfers out (523)(442)(39)(409)(18)(1,296)(632)
Transfers in 87 1,918 107 642 380 1,256 669 
At 31 Dec 20222,965 4,817 16,066 1,964 474 10,432 2,920 
Unrealised gains/(losses) recognised in profit or loss relating to assets and liabilities held at 31 Dec 2021 (100)(148)707 2 100 2,779 
– net income/(losses) from financial instruments held for trading or managed on a fair value basis (100) 707 2  2,779 
– changes in fair value of other financial instruments mandatorily measured at fair value through profit or loss  (148)  100  
At 1 Jan 20213,654 2,499 11,477 2,670 162 5,306 4,188 
Total gains/(losses) recognised in profit or loss (10)(378)1,753 2,237 16 (836)2,583 
– net income/(losses) from financial instruments held for trading or managed on a fair value basis— (378)— 2,237 16 — 2,583 
– changes in fair value of other financial instruments mandatorily measured at fair value through profit or loss— — 1,753 — — (836)— 
– gains less losses from financial investments at fair value through other comprehensive income(10)— — — — — — 
Total gains/(losses) recognised in other comprehensive income (‘OCI’)1
(521)(18)(285)(27)(8)(61)(26)
– financial investments: fair value gains/ (losses)(428)— — — — — — 
– exchange differences (93)(18)(285)(27)(8)(61)(26)
Purchases 1,025 1,988 3,692 — 1,014 — 
New issuances — — — — 35 5,969 — 
Sales (580)(473)(1,216)— (4)(27)— 
Settlements (336)(747)(1,049)(2,347)(681)(2,922)(3,962)
Transfers out (383)(1,027)(184)(418)(7)(704)(734)
Transfers in 540 818 50 363 258 1,154 1,039 
At 31 Dec 20213,389 2,662 14,238 2,478 785 7,880 3,088 
Unrealised gains/(losses) recognised in profit or loss relating to assets and liabilities held at 31 Dec 2020— (309)1,509 1,298 — 166 (969)
– net income/(losses) from financial instruments held for trading or managed on a fair value basis— (309)— 1,298 — — (969)
– changes in fair value of other financial instruments mandatorily measured at fair value through profit or loss— — 1,509 — — 166 — 
1    Included in ‘financial investments: fair value gains/(losses)’ in the current year and ‘exchange differences’ in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
Transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy are deemed to occur at the end of each quarterly reporting period. Transfers into and out of levels of the fair value hierarchy are primarily attributable to observability of valuation inputs and price transparency.
Effect of changes in significant unobservable assumptions to reasonably possible alternatives
Sensitivity of fair values to reasonably possible alternative assumptions
20222021
Reflected in profit or lossReflected in OCIReflected in profit or lossReflected in OCI
Favourable
changes
Un-
favourable
changes
Favourable
changes
Un-
favourable
changes
Favourable
changes
Un-
favourable
changes
Favourable
changes
Un-
favourable
changes
$m$m$m$m$m$m$m$m
Derivatives, trading assets and trading liabilities1
264 (291)  143 (146)— — 
Financial assets and liabilities designated and otherwise mandatorily measured at fair value through profit or loss914 (911)  849 (868)— — 
Financial investments11 (11)65 (55)20 (20)113 (112)
At 31 Dec1,189 (1,213)65 (55)1,012 (1,034)113 (112)
1    ‘Derivatives, trading assets and trading liabilities’ are presented as one category to reflect the manner in which these instruments are risk-managed.
The sensitivity analysis aims to measure a range of fair values consistent with the application of a 95% confidence interval. Methodologies take account of the nature of the valuation technique employed, as well as the availability and reliability of observable proxy and historical data.
When the fair value of a financial instrument is affected by more than one unobservable assumption, the above table reflects the most favourable or the most unfavourable change from varying the assumptions individually.
Key unobservable inputs to Level 3 financial instruments
The following table lists key unobservable inputs to Level 3 financial instruments and provides the range of those inputs at 31 December 2022.
Quantitative information about significant unobservable inputs in Level 3 valuations
Fair value20222021
AssetsLiabilitiesValuation
techniques
Key unobservable
inputs
Full range
of inputs
Full range
of inputs
$m$mLowerHigherLowerHigher
Private equity including strategic investments 16,318 92 See belowSee below
Asset-backed securities 741  
– collateralised loan/debt obligation188 Market proxy Bid quotes  92— 100
– other ABSs 553  Market proxyBid quotes 99— 100
Structured notes  10,432 
– equity-linked notes  6,833 Model – Option model Equity volatility 6%142%6%124%
Model – Option model Equity correlation 32%99%22%99%
– Foreign exchange-linked notes  2,694 Model – Option model Foreign exchange volatility 3%37%1%99%
– other  905 
Derivatives 1,964 2,920   
– interest rate derivatives560 710   
   securitisation swaps 259 209 Model – Discounted cash flowPrepayment rate 5%10%5%10%
   long-dated swaptions 53 67 Model – Option model Interest rate volatility 8%53%15%35%
   other 248 434 
– Foreign exchange derivatives445 304 
   Foreign exchange options 404 274 Model – Option model Foreign exchange volatility1%46%1%99%
   other 41 30 
– equity derivatives850 1,658 
   long-dated single stock options 415 502 Model – Option model Equity volatility7%153%4%138%
   other 435 1,156 
– credit derivatives109 248 
Other portfolios 6,789 382 
– repurchase agreements750 328 Model – Discounted cash flowInterest rate curve1%9%1%5%
– other1
6,039 54 
At 31 Dec 202225,812 13,826 
1    ‘Other’ includes a range of smaller asset holdings.
Private equity including strategic investments
Given the bespoke nature of the analysis in respect of each private equity holding, it is not practical to quote a range of key unobservable inputs. The key unobservable inputs would be price and correlation. The valuation approach includes using a range of inputs that include company specific financials, traded comparable companies multiples, published net asset values and qualitative assumptions, which are not directly comparable or quantifiable.
Prepayment rates
Prepayment rates are a measure of the anticipated future speed at which a loan portfolio will be repaid in advance of the due date. They vary according to the nature of the loan portfolio and expectations of future market conditions, and may be estimated using a variety of evidence, such as prepayment rates implied from proxy observable security prices, current or historical prepayment rates and macroeconomic modelling.
Market proxy
Market proxy pricing may be used for an instrument when specific market pricing is not available but there is evidence from instruments with common characteristics. In some cases it might be possible to identify a specific proxy, but more generally evidence across a wider range of instruments will be used to understand the factors that influence current market pricing and the manner of that influence.
Volatility
Volatility is a measure of the anticipated future variability of a market price. It varies by underlying reference market price, and by strike and maturity of the option. Certain volatilities, typically those of a longer-dated nature, are unobservable and are estimated from observable data. The range of unobservable volatilities reflects the wide variation in volatility inputs by reference market price. The core range is significantly narrower than the full range because these examples with extreme volatilities occur relatively rarely within the HSBC portfolio.
Correlation
Correlation is a measure of the inter-relationship between two market prices and is expressed as a number between minus one and one. It is used to value more complex instruments where the payout is dependent upon more than one market price. There is a wide range of instruments for which correlation is an input, and consequently a wide range of both same-asset correlations and cross-asset correlations is used. In general, the range of same-asset correlations will be narrower than the range of cross-asset correlations.
Unobservable correlations may be estimated based upon a range of evidence, including consensus pricing services, HSBC trade prices, proxy correlations and examination of historical price relationships. The range of unobservable correlations quoted in the table reflects the wide variation in correlation inputs by market price pair.
Credit spread
Credit spread is the premium over a benchmark interest rate required by the market to accept lower credit quality. In a discounted cash flow model, the credit spread increases the discount factors applied to future cash flows, thereby reducing the value of an asset. Credit spreads may be implied from market prices and may not be observable in more illiquid markets.
Inter-relationships between key unobservable inputs
Key unobservable inputs to Level 3 financial instruments may not be independent of each other. As described above, market variables may be correlated. This correlation typically reflects the manner in which different markets tend to react to macroeconomic or other events. Furthermore, the effect of changing market variables on the HSBC portfolio will depend on HSBC’s net risk position in respect of each variable.
HSBC Holdings
Basis of valuing HSBC Holdings’ financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value
20222021
$m$m
Valuation technique using observable inputs: Level 2
Assets at 31 Dec
– derivatives 3,801 2,811 
– designated and otherwise mandatorily measured at fair value through profit or loss52,322 51,408 
Liabilities at 31 Dec
– designated at fair value 32,123 32,418 
– derivatives 6,922 1,220 
13
Fair values of financial instruments not carried at fair value
Fair values of financial instruments not carried at fair value and bases of valuation
Fair value
Carrying
amount
Quoted market
price Level 1
Observable
inputs Level 2
Significant
unobservable
inputs Level 3
Total
$m$m$m$m$m
At 31 Dec 2022
Assets
Loans and advances to banks104,882  104,074 814 104,888 
Loans and advances to customers924,854  8,768 904,288 913,056 
Reverse repurchase agreements – non-trading253,754  253,668  253,668 
Financial investments – at amortised cost168,746 90,629 67,419 626 158,674 
Liabilities
Deposits by banks66,722  66,831  66,831 
Customer accounts1,570,303  1,570,209  1,570,209 
Repurchase agreements – non-trading127,747  127,500  127,500 
Debt securities in issue78,149  76,640 381 77,021 
Subordinated liabilities22,290  22,723  22,723 
At 31 Dec 2021
Assets
Loans and advances to banks83,136 — 82,220 1,073 83,293 
Loans and advances to customers1,045,814 — 10,287 1,034,288 1,044,575 
Reverse repurchase agreements – non-trading241,648 — 241,531 121 241,652 
Financial investments – at amortised cost97,302 38,722 63,022 523 102,267 
Liabilities
Deposits by banks101,152 — 101,149 — 101,149 
Customer accounts1,710,574 — 1,710,733 — 1,710,733 
Repurchase agreements – non-trading126,670 — 126,670 — 126,670 
Debt securities in issue78,557 — 78,754 489 79,243 
Subordinated liabilities20,487 — 26,206 — 26,206 
Fair values of financial instruments not carried at fair value and bases of valuation – assets and disposal groups held for sale
Fair value
Carrying amountQuoted market price Level 1Observable inputs Level 2Significant unobservable inputs Level 3Total
$m$m$m$m$m
At 31 Dec 2022
Assets
Loans and advances to banks253  257  257 
Loans and advances to customers80,687  111 78,048 78,159 
Reverse repurchase agreements – non-trading4,646  4,646  4,646 
Financial investments – at amortised cost6,165 6,042   6,042 
Liabilities
Deposits by banks64  64  64 
Customer accounts85,274  85,303  85,303 
Repurchase agreements – non-trading3,266  3,266  3,266 
Debt securities in issue12,928  12,575  12,575 
Subordinated liabilities8  7  7 
At 31 Dec 2021
Assets
Loans and advances to banks— — 
Loans and advances to customers3,056 — 363 2,808 3,171 
Liabilities
Deposits by banks87 — 87 — 87 
Customer accounts8,750 — 8,750 — 8,750 
Other financial instruments not carried at fair value are typically short term in nature and reprice to current market rates frequently. Accordingly, their carrying amount is a reasonable approximation of fair value. They include cash and balances at central banks, items in the course of collection from and transmission to other banks, Hong Kong Government certificates of indebtedness and Hong Kong currency notes in circulation, all of which are measured at amortised cost.
Valuation
Fair value is an estimate of the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It does not reflect the economic benefits and costs that HSBC expects to flow from an instrument’s cash flow over its expected future life. Our valuation methodologies and assumptions in determining fair values for which no observable market prices are available may differ from those of other companies.
Loans and advances to banks and customers
To determine the fair value of loans and advances to banks and customers, loans are segregated, as far as possible, into portfolios of similar characteristics. Fair values are based on observable market transactions, when available. When they are unavailable, fair values are estimated using valuation models incorporating a range of input assumptions. These assumptions may include: value estimates from third-party brokers reflecting over-the-counter trading activity; forward-looking discounted cash flow models, taking account of expected customer prepayment rates, using assumptions that HSBC believes are consistent with those that would be used by market participants in valuing such loans; new business rates estimates for similar loans; and trading inputs from other market participants including observed primary and secondary trades. From time to time, we may engage a third-party valuation specialist to measure the fair value of a pool of loans.
The fair value of loans reflects expected credit losses at the balance sheet date and estimates of market participants’ expectations of credit losses over the life of the loans, and the fair value effect of repricing between origination and the balance sheet date. For credit-impaired loans, fair value is estimated by discounting the future cash flows over the time period they are expected to be recovered.
Financial investments
The fair values of listed financial investments are determined using bid market prices. The fair values of unlisted financial investments are determined using valuation techniques that incorporate the prices and future earnings streams of equivalent quoted securities.
Deposits by banks and customer accounts
The fair values of on-demand deposits are approximated by their carrying value. For deposits with longer-term maturities, fair values are estimated using discounted cash flows, applying current rates offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities.
Debt securities in issue and subordinated liabilities
Fair values in debt securities in issue and subordinated liabilities are determined using quoted market prices at the balance sheet date where available, or by reference to quoted market prices for similar instruments.
Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements – non-trading
Fair values of repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements that are held on a non-trading basis provide approximate carrying amounts. This is due to the fact that balances are generally short dated.
HSBC Holdings
The methods used by HSBC Holdings to determine fair values of financial instruments for the purposes of measurement and disclosure are described above.
Fair values of HSBC Holdings’ financial instruments not carried at fair value on the balance sheet
20222021
Carrying amount
Fair value1
Carrying amount
Fair value1
$m$m$m$m
Assets at 31 Dec
Loans and advances to HSBC undertakings 26,765 26,962 25,108 25,671 
Financial investments – at amortised cost19,466 19,314 26,194 26,176 
Liabilities at 31 Dec
Debt securities in issue 66,938 65,364 67,483 69,719 
Subordinated liabilities 19,727 20,644 17,059 21,066 
1    Fair values (other than Level 1 financial investments) were determined using valuation techniques with observable inputs (Level 2).