Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

We determine the fair value of our investment securities and debt of consolidated VIEs based upon fair value estimates obtained from multiple third party pricing services and dealers. In determining fair value, third party pricing sources use various valuation approaches, including market and income approaches. Factors used by third party sources in estimating the fair value of an instrument may include observable inputs such as coupons, primary and secondary mortgage rates, pricing information, credit data, volatility statistics, and other market data that are current as of the measurement date. The availability of observable inputs can vary by instrument and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including the type of instrument, whether the instrument is new and not yet established in the marketplace and other characteristics particular to the instrument. Third party pricing sources may also use certain unobservable inputs, such as assumptions of future levels of prepayment, defaults and foreclosures, especially when estimating fair values for securities with lower levels of recent trading activity. We make inquiries of third party pricing sources to understand the significant inputs and assumptions they used to determine their prices. For further information regarding valuation of our derivative instruments, please refer to the discussion of derivative and other hedging instruments in Note 3.

We review the various third party fair value estimates and perform procedures to validate their reasonableness, including an analysis of the range of third party estimates for each position, comparison to recent trade activity for similar securities, and management review for consistency with market conditions observed as of the measurement date. While we do not adjust prices we obtain from third party pricing sources, we will exclude third party prices for securities from our determination of fair value if we determine (based on our validation procedures and our market knowledge and expertise) that the price is significantly different from observable market data would indicate and we cannot obtain an understanding from the third party source as to the significant inputs used to determine the price.

The validation procedures described above also influence our determination of the appropriate fair value measurement classification. We utilize a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurement. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. A financial instrument's categorization within the hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. There were no transfers between hierarchy levels during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. The three levels of hierarchy are defined as follows:


•	Level 1 Inputs —Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical unrestricted assets and liabilities in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date.


•	Level 2 Inputs —Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.


•	Level 3 Inputs —Instruments with primarily unobservable market data that cannot be corroborated.

The following table provides a summary of our assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 (in millions):



	September 30, 2015						December 31, 2014
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Agency securities	$	—	$	53,729	$	—	$	—	$	55,482	$	—
Agency securities transferred to consolidated VIEs	—		1,088		—		—		1,266		—
U.S. Treasury securities	787		—		—		2,427		—		—
Interest rate swaps	—		—		—		—		136		—
Swaptions	—		21		—		—		75		—
REIT equity securities	34		—		—		68		—		—
TBA securities	—		122		—		—		197		—
Total	$	821	$	54,960	$	—	$	2,495	$	57,156	$	—
Liabilities:
Debt of consolidated VIEs	$	—	$	626	$	—	$	—	$	761	$	—
Obligation to return U.S. Treasury securities borrowed under reverse repurchase agreements	1,309		—		—		5,363		—		—
Interest rate swaps	—		1,523		—		—		880		—
TBA securities	—		2		—		—		5		—
U.S. Treasury futures	9		—		—		5		—		—
Other	—		2		—		—		—		—
Total	$	1,318	$	2,153	$	—	$	5,368	$	1,646	$	—

We elected the option to account for debt of consolidated VIEs at fair value with changes in fair value reflected in earnings during the period in which they occur, because we believe this election more appropriately reflects our financial position as both the consolidated agency securities and consolidated debt are presented in a consistent manner, at fair value, on our consolidated balance sheets. We estimate the fair value of the consolidated debt based on the fair value of the agency MBS transferred to consolidated VIEs, less the fair value of our retained interests, which are based on valuations obtained from third-party pricing services and non-binding dealer quotes derived from common market pricing methods using "Level 2" inputs.

Excluded from the table above are financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, receivables, payables and borrowings under repurchase agreements and FHLB advances, which are presented in our consolidated financial statements at cost. The cost basis of these instruments is determined to approximate fair value due to their short duration or, in the case of longer-term repo and FHLB advances, due to floating rates of interest based on an index plus or minus a fixed spread which is consistent with fixed spreads demanded in the market. We estimate the fair value of these instruments using "Level 2" inputs.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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