INVESTMENTS

Fixed Maturities and Equity Securities

The following table provides information relating to fixed maturities and equity securities classified as AFS:



Available-for-Sale Securities by Classification
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value		OTTI in AOCI⁽³⁾
					(in millions)
December 31, 2017
Fixed Maturity Securities:
Public corporate	$	13,645	$	725	$	25	$	14,345	$	—
Private corporate	6,951		217		31		7,137		—
U.S. Treasury, government and agency	12,644		676		185		13,135		—
States and political subdivisions	414		67		—		481		—
Foreign governments	387		27		5		409		—
Commercial mortgage-backed	—		—		—		—		—
Residential mortgage-backed⁽¹⁾	236		15		—		251		—
Asset-backed⁽²⁾	93		3		—		96		2
Redeemable preferred stock	461		44		1		504		—
Total Fixed Maturities	34,831		1,774		247		36,358		2
Equity securities	157		—		—		157		—
Total at December 31, 2017	$	34,988	$	1,774	$	247	$	36,515	$	2
December 31, 2016:
Fixed Maturity Securities:
Public corporate	$	12,418	$	675	$	81	$	13,012	$	—
Private corporate	6,880		215		55		7,040		—
U.S. Treasury, government and agency	10,739		221		624		10,336		—
States and political subdivisions	432		63		2		493		—
Foreign governments	375		29		14		390		—
Commercial mortgage-backed	415		28		72		371		7
Residential mortgage-backed⁽¹⁾	294		20		—		314		—
Asset-backed⁽²⁾	51		10		1		60		3
Redeemable preferred stock	519		45		10		554		—
Total Fixed Maturities	32,123		1,306		859		32,570		10
Equity securities	113		—		—		113		—
Total at December 31, 2016	$	32,236	$	1,306	$	859	$	32,683	$	10


(1)	Includes publicly traded agency pass-through securities and collateralized obligations.


(2)	Includes credit-tranched securities collateralized by sub-prime mortgages and other asset types and credit tenant loans.


(3)	Amounts represent OTTI losses in AOCI, which were not included in income (loss) in accordance with current accounting guidance.

The contractual maturities of AFS fixed maturities at December 31, 2017 are shown in the table below. Bonds not due at a single maturity date have been included in the table in the final year of maturity. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.



Available-for-Sale Fixed Maturities
Contractual Maturities at December 31, 2017
	Amortized Cost		Fair Value
	(in millions)
Due in one year or less	$	1,339	$	1,352
Due in years two through five	7,773		8,035
Due in years six through ten	9,889		10,136
Due after ten years	15,040		15,984
Subtotal	34,041		35,507
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	—		—
Residential mortgage-backed securities	236		251
Asset-backed securities	93		96
Redeemable preferred stocks	461		504
Total	$	34,831	$	36,358

The following table shows proceeds from sales, gross gains (losses) from sales and OTTI for AFS fixed maturities during 2017, 2016 and 2015:



	December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(in millions)
Proceeds from sales	$	7,232		$	4,324		$	979
Gross gains on sales	$	98		$	111		$	33
Gross losses on sales	$	(211	)	$	(58	)	$	(8	)
Total OTTI	$	(13	)	$	(65	)	$	(41	)
Non-credit losses recognized in OCI	—			—			—
Credit losses recognized in net income (loss)	$	(13	)	$	(65	)	$	(41	)

The following table sets forth the amount of credit loss impairments on fixed maturity securities held by the Company at the dates indicated and the corresponding changes in such amounts:

Fixed Maturities - Credit Loss Impairments



	2017			2016
	(in millions)
Balances at January 1,	$	(190	)	$	(198	)
Previously recognized impairments on securities that matured, paid, prepaid or sold	193			73
Recognized impairments on securities impaired to fair value this period⁽¹⁾	—			(17		)
Impairments recognized this period on securities not previously impaired	(13		)	(46		)
Additional impairments this period on securities previously impaired	—			(2		)
Increases due to passage of time on previously recorded credit losses	—			—
Accretion of previously recognized impairments due to increases in expected cash flows	—			—
Balances at December 31,	$	(10	)	$	(190	)


(1)	Represents circumstances where the Company determined in the current period that it intends to sell the security or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery of the security’s amortized cost.

Net unrealized investment gains (losses) on fixed maturities and equity securities classified as AFS are included in the consolidated balance sheets as a component of AOCI. The table below presents these amounts as of the dates indicated:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(in millions)
AFS Securities:
Fixed maturities:
With OTTI loss	$	1	$	19
All other	1,526		428
Equity securities	—		—
Net Unrealized Gains (Losses)	$	1,527	$	447

Changes in net unrealized investment gains (losses) recognized in AOCI include reclassification adjustments to reflect amounts realized in Net income (loss) for the current period that had been part of OCI in earlier periods. The tables that follow below present a rollforward of net unrealized investment gains (losses) recognized in AOCI, split between amounts related to fixed maturity securities on which an OTTI loss has been recognized, and all other:

Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Fixed Maturities with OTTI Losses



	Net Unrealized Gain (Losses) on Investments			DAC			Policyholders Liabilities			Deferred Income Tax Asset (Liability)			AOCI Gain (Loss) Related to Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses)
	(in millions)
Balance, January 1, 2017	$	19		$	(1	)	$	(10	)	$	(3	)	$	5
Net investment gains (losses) arising during the period	(18		)	—			—			—			(18		)
Reclassification adjustment for OTTI losses:
Included in Net income (loss)	—			—			—			—			—
Excluded from Net income (loss)⁽¹⁾	—			—			—			—			—
Impact of net unrealized investment gains (losses) on:
DAC	—			2			—			—			2
Deferred income taxes	—			—			—			(2		)	(2		)
Policyholders liabilities	—			—			9			—			9
Balance, December 31, 2017	$	1		$	1		$	(1	)	$	(5	)	$	(4	)
Balance, January 1, 2016	$	16		$	—		$	(4	)	$	(5	)	$	7
Net investment gains (losses) arising during the period	(6		)	—			—			—			(6		)
Reclassification adjustment for OTTI losses:
Included in Net income (loss)	9			—			—			—			9
Excluded from Net income (loss)⁽¹⁾	—			—			—			—			—
Impact of net unrealized investment gains (losses) on:
DAC	—			(1		)	—			—			(1		)
Deferred income taxes	—			—			—			2			2
Policyholders liabilities	—			—			(6		)	—			(6		)
Balance, December 31, 2016	$	19		$	(1	)	$	(10	)	$	(3	)	$	5


(1)	Represents “transfers in” related to the portion of OTTI losses recognized during the period that were not recognized in income (loss) for securities with no prior OTTI loss.

All Other Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses) in AOCI



	Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments			DAC			Policyholders Liabilities			Deferred Income Tax Asset (Liability)			AOCI Gain (Loss) Related to Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses)
	(in millions)
Balance, January 1, 2017	$	428		$	(70	)	$	(188	)	$	(60	)	$	110
Net investment gains (losses) arising during the period	1,085			—			—			—			1,085
Reclassification adjustment for OTTI losses:
Included in Net income (loss)	13			—			—			—			13
Excluded from Net income (loss)⁽¹⁾	—			—			—			—			—
Impact of net unrealized investment gains (losses) on:
DAC	—			(245		)	—			—			(245		)
Deferred income taxes	—			—			—			(240		)	(240		)
Policyholders liabilities	—			—			(44		)	—			(44		)
Balance, December 31, 2017	$	1,526		$	(315	)	$	(232	)	$	(300	)	$	679
Balance, January 1, 2016	$	674		$	(93	)	$	(221	)	$	(126	)	$	234
Net investment gains (losses) arising during the period	(240		)	—			—			—			(240		)
Reclassification adjustment for OTTI losses:
Included in Net income (loss)	(6		)	—			—			—			(6		)
Excluded from Net income (loss)⁽¹⁾	—			—			—			—			—
Impact of net unrealized investment gains (losses) on:
DAC	—			23			—			—			23
Deferred income taxes	—			—			—			66			66
Policyholders liabilities	—			—			33			—			33
Balance, December 31, 2016	$	428		$	(70	)	$	(188	)	$	(60	)	$	110


(1)	Represents “transfers out” related to the portion of OTTI losses during the period that were not recognized in income (loss) for securities with no prior OTTI loss.

The following tables disclose the fair values and gross unrealized losses of the 620 issues at December 31, 2017 and the 794 issues at December 31, 2016 of fixed maturities that are not deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for the specified periods at the dates indicated:



	Less Than 12 Months				12 Months or Longer				Total
	Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses
	(in millions)
December 31, 2017:
Fixed Maturity Securities:
Public corporate	$	1,384	$	9	$	548	$	16	$	1,932	$	25
Private corporate	718		8		615		23		1,333		31
U.S. Treasury, government and agency	2,150		6		3,005		179		5,155		185
States and political subdivisions	20		—		—		—		20		—
Foreign governments	11		—		73		5		84		5
Commercial mortgage-backed	—		—		—		—		—		—
Residential mortgage-backed	18		—		—		—		18		—
Asset-backed	7		—		2		—		9		—
Redeemable preferred stock	7		—		12		1		19		1
Total	$	4,315	$	23	$	4,255	$	224	$	8,570	$	247
December 31, 2016:
Fixed Maturity Securities:
Public corporate	$	2,455	$	75	$	113	$	6	$	2,568	$	81
Private corporate	1,483		38		277		17		1,760		55
U.S. Treasury, government and agency	5,356		624		—		—		5,356		624
States and political subdivisions	—		—		18		2		18		2
Foreign governments	73		3		49		11		122		14
Commercial mortgage-backed	66		5		171		67		237		72
Residential mortgage-backed	47		—		4		—		51		—
Asset-backed	4		—		8		1		12		1
Redeemable preferred stock	218		9		12		1		230		10
Total	$	9,702	$	754	$	652	$	105	$	10,354	$	859

The Company’s investments in fixed maturity securities do not include concentrations of credit risk of any single issuer greater than 10% of the consolidated equity of the Company, other than securities of the U.S. government, U.S. government agencies, and certain securities guaranteed by the U.S. government. The Company maintains a diversified portfolio of corporate securities across industries and issuers and does not have exposure to any single issuer in excess of 0.8% of total investments. The largest exposures to a single issuer of corporate securities held at December 31, 2017 and 2016 were $182 million and $169 million, respectively. Corporate high yield securities, consisting primarily of public high yield bonds, are classified as other than investment grade by the various rating agencies, i.e., a rating below Baa3/BBB- or the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) designation of 3 (medium grade), 4 or 5 (below investment grade) or 6 (in or near default). At December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, approximately $1,309 million and $1,574 million, or 3.8% and 4.9%, of the $34,831 million and $32,123 million aggregate amortized cost of fixed maturities held by the Company were considered to be other than investment grade. These securities had net unrealized losses of $5 million and $28 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, the $224 million and $105 million of gross unrealized losses of twelve months or more were concentrated in U.S. Treasury, corporate and commercial mortgage-backed securities. In accordance with the policy described in Note 2, the Company concluded that an adjustment to income for OTTI for these securities was not warranted at either December 31, 2017 or 2016. As of December 31, 2017, the Company did not intend to sell the securities nor will it likely be required to dispose of the securities before the anticipated recovery of their remaining amortized cost basis.

The Company does not originate, purchase or warehouse residential mortgages and is not in the mortgage servicing business.

At December 31, 2017, the carrying value of fixed maturities that were non-income producing for the twelve months preceding that date was $3 million.

At December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, the fair value of the Company’s trading account securities was $12,628 million and $9,134 million. Also at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, Trading account securities included the General Account’s investment in Separate Accounts which had carrying values of $49 million and $63 million.

Mortgage Loans

The payment terms of mortgage loans may from time to time be restructured or modified.

Troubled Debt Restructuring

The investment in troubled debt restructured mortgage loans, based on amortized cost, amounted to $0 million and $15 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Gross interest income on these loans included in net investment income (loss) totaled $0 million, $0 million and $1 million in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Valuation Allowances for Mortgage Loans:

Allowance for credit losses for mortgage loans for 2017, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:



	Commercial Mortgage Loans
	2017		2016			2015
Allowance for credit losses:	(in millions)
Beginning Balance, January 1,	$	8	$	6		$	37
Charge-offs	—		—			(32		)
Recoveries	—		(2		)	(1		)
Provision	—		4			2
Ending Balance, December 31,	$	8	$	8		$	6

Individually Evaluated for Impairment	$	8	$	8		$	6

There were no allowances for credit losses for agricultural mortgage loans in 2017, 2016 and 2015.

The following tables provide information relating to the loan-to-value and debt service coverage ratios for commercial and agricultural mortgage loans at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The values used in these ratio calculations were developed as part of the periodic review of the commercial and agricultural mortgage loan portfolio, which includes an evaluation of the underlying collateral value.

Mortgage Loans by Loan-to-Value and Debt Service Coverage Ratios

December 31, 2017



	Debt Service Coverage Ratio⁽¹⁾
Loan-to-Value Ratio:⁽²⁾	Greater than 2.0x		1.8x to 2.0x		1.5x to 1.8x		1.2x to 1.5x		1.0x to 1.2x		Less than 1.0x		Total Mortgage Loans
	(in millions)
Commercial Mortgage Loans⁽¹⁾
0% - 50%	$	742	$	—	$	320	$	74	$	—	$	—	$	1,136
50% - 70%	4,088		682		1,066		428		145		—		6,409
70% - 90%	169		110		196		272		50		—		797
90% plus	—		—		27		—		—		—		27
Total Commercial Mortgage Loans	$	4,999	$	792	$	1,609	$	774	$	195	$	—	$	8,369
Agricultural Mortgage Loans⁽¹⁾
0% - 50%	$	272	$	149	$	275	$	515	$	316	$	30	$	1,557
50% - 70%	111		46		227		359		221		49		1,013
70% - 90%	—		—		—		4		—		—		4
90% plus	—		—		—		—		—		—		—
Total Agricultural Mortgage Loans	$	383	$	195	$	502	$	878	$	537	$	79	$	2,574
Total Mortgage Loans⁽¹⁾
0% - 50%	$	1,014	$	149	$	595	$	589	$	316	$	30	$	2,693
50% - 70%	4,199		728		1,293		787		366		49		7,422
70% - 90%	169		110		196		276		50		—		801
90% plus	—		—		27		—		—		—		27
Total Mortgage Loans	$	5,382	$	987	$	2,111	$	1,652	$	732	$	79	$	10,943


(1)	The debt service coverage ratio is calculated using the most recently reported operating income results from property operations divided by annual debt service.


(2)	The loan-to-value ratio is derived from current loan balance divided by the fair market value of the property. The fair market value of the underlying commercial properties is updated annually.

Mortgage Loans by Loan-to-Value and Debt Service Coverage Ratios

December 31, 2016



	Debt Service Coverage Ratio⁽¹⁾
Loan-to-Value Ratio:⁽²⁾	Greater than 2.0x		1.8x to 2.0x		1.5x to 1.8x		1.2x to 1.5x		1.0x to 1.2x		Less than 1.0x		Total Mortgage Loans
	(in millions)
Commercial Mortgage Loans⁽¹⁾
0% - 50%	$	738	$	95	$	59	$	56	$	—	$	—	$	948
50% - 70%	3,217		430		673		1,100		76		—		5,496
70% - 90%	282		65		229		127		28		46		777
90% plus	—		—		28		15		—		—		43
Total Commercial Mortgage Loans	$	4,237	$	590	$	989	$	1,298	$	104	$	46	$	7,264
Agricultural Mortgage Loans⁽¹⁾
0% - 50%	$	254	$	138	$	296	$	468	$	286	$	49	$	1,491
50% - 70%	141		57		209		333		219		45		1,004
70% - 90%	—		—		2		4		—		—		6
90% plus	—		—		—		—		—		—		—
Total Agricultural Mortgage Loans	$	395	$	195	$	507	$	805	$	505	$	94	$	2,501
Total Mortgage Loans⁽¹⁾
0% - 50%	$	992	$	233	$	355	$	524	$	286	$	49	$	2,439
50% - 70%	3,358		487		882		1,433		295		45		6,500
70% - 90%	282		65		231		131		28		46		783
90% plus	—		—		28		15		—		—		43
Total Mortgage Loans	$	4,632	$	785	$	1,496	$	2,103	$	609	$	140	$	9,765


(1)	The debt service coverage ratio is calculated using the most recently reported operating income results from property operations divided by annual debt service.


(2)	The loan-to-value ratio is derived from current loan balance divided by the fair market value of the property. The fair market value of the underlying commercial properties is updated annually.

The following table provides information relating to the aging analysis of past due mortgage loans at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Age Analysis of Past Due Mortgage Loan



	30-59 Days		60-89 Days		90 Days Or >		Total		Current		Total Financing Receivables		Recorded Investment 90 Days Or > and Accruing
	(in millions)
December 31, 2017:
Commercial	$	27	$	—	$	—	$	27	$	8,342	$	8,369	$	—
Agricultural	49		3		22		74		2,500		2,574		22
Total Mortgage Loans	$	76	$	3	$	22	$	101	$	10,842	$	10,943	$	22
December 31, 2016:
Commercial	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	7,264	$	7,264	$	—
Agricultural	9		2		6		17		2,484		2,501		6
Total Mortgage Loans	$	9	$	2	$	6	$	17	$	9,748	$	9,765	$	6

The following table provides information relating to impaired mortgage loans at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.



			Impaired Mortgage Loans
	Recorded Investment		Unpaid Principal Balance		Related Allowance			Average Recorded Investment⁽¹⁾		Interest Income Recognized
	(in millions)
December 31, 2017:
With no related allowance recorded:
Commercial mortgage loans - other	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—
Agricultural mortgage loans	—		—		—			—		—
Total	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—
With related allowance recorded:
Commercial mortgage loans - other	$	27	$	27	$	(8	)	$	27	$	2
Agricultural mortgage loans	—		—		—			—		—
Total	$	27	$	27	$	(8	)	$	27	$	2
December 31, 2016:
With no related allowance recorded:
Commercial mortgage loans - other	$	15	$	15	$	—		$	22	$	—
Agricultural mortgage loans	—		—		—			—		—
Total	$	15	$	15	$	—		$	22	$	—
With related allowance recorded:
Commercial mortgage loans - other	$	27	$	27	$	(8	)	$	48	$	2
Agricultural mortgage loans	—		—		—			—		—
Total	$	27	$	27	$	(8	)	$	48	$	2


(1)	Represents a five-quarter average of recorded amortized cost.

Equity Method Investments

Included in other equity investments are limited partnership interests accounted for under the equity method with a total carrying value of $1,106 million and $1,123 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017 and 2016. The Company’s total equity in net income (loss) for these limited partnership interests was $156 million, $50 million and $67 million, respectively, for 2017, 2016 and 2015.

Derivatives and Offsetting Assets and Liabilities

The Company uses derivatives as part of its overall asset/liability risk management primarily to reduce exposures to equity market and interest rate risks. Derivative hedging strategies are designed to reduce these risks from an economic perspective and are all executed within the framework of a “Derivative Use Plan” approved by applicable states’ insurance law. Derivatives are generally not accounted for using hedge accounting, with the exception of Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (“TIPS”), which is discussed further below. Operation of these hedging programs is based on models involving numerous estimates and assumptions, including, among others, mortality, lapse, surrender and withdrawal rates, election rates, fund performance, market volatility and interest rates. A wide range of derivative contracts are used in these hedging programs, including exchange traded equity, currency and interest rate futures contracts, total return and/or other equity swaps, interest rate swap and floor contracts, bond and bond-index total return swaps, swaptions, variance swaps and equity options, credit and foreign exchange derivatives, as well as bond and repo transactions to support the hedging. The derivative contracts are collectively managed in an effort to reduce the economic impact of unfavorable changes in guaranteed benefits’ exposures attributable to movements in capital markets.

Derivatives utilized to hedge exposure to Variable Annuities with Guarantee Features

The Company has issued and continues to offer variable annuity products with GMxB features. The risk associated with the GMDB feature is that under-performance of the financial markets could result in GMDB benefits, in the event of death, being higher than what accumulated policyholders’ account balances would support. The risk associated with the GMIB feature is that under-performance of the financial markets could result in the present value of GMIB, in the event of annuitization, being higher than what accumulated policyholders’ account balances would support, taking into account the relationship between current annuity purchase rates and the GMIB guaranteed annuity purchase rates. The risk associated with products that have a GMxB derivative features liability is that under-performance of the financial markets could result in the GMxB derivative features' benefits being higher than what accumulated policyholders’ account balances would support.

For GMxB features, the Company retains certain risks including basis, credit spread and some volatility risk and risk associated with actual versus expected actuarial assumptions for mortality, lapse and surrender, withdrawal and policyholder election rates, among other things. The derivative contracts are managed to correlate with changes in the value of the GMxB features that result from financial markets movements. A portion of exposure to realized equity volatility is hedged using equity options and variance swaps and a portion of exposure to credit risk is hedged using total return swaps on fixed income indices. Additionally, the Company is party to total return swaps for which the reference U.S. Treasury securities are contemporaneously purchased from the market and sold to the swap counterparty. As these transactions result in a transfer of control of the U.S. Treasury securities to the swap counterparty, the Company derecognizes these securities with consequent gain or loss from the sale. The Company has also purchased reinsurance contracts to mitigate the risks associated with GMDB features and the impact of potential market fluctuations on future policyholder elections of GMIB features contained in certain annuity contracts issued by the Company.

The Company implemented an overlay hedge program to ensure a target asset level for all variable annuities at a CTE98 level under most scenarios, and at a CTE95 level in extreme scenarios.

Derivatives utilized to hedge crediting rate exposure on SCS, SIO, MSO and IUL products/investment options

The Company hedges crediting rates in the Structured Capital Strategies (“SCS”) variable annuity, Structured Investment Option in the EQUI-VEST variable annuity series (“SIO”), Market Stabilizer Option (“MSO”) in the variable life insurance products and Indexed Universal Life (“IUL”) insurance products. These products permit the contract owner to participate in the performance of an index, ETF or commodity price movement up to a cap for a set period of time. They also contain a protection feature, in which the Company will absorb, up to a certain percentage, the loss of value in an index, ETF or commodity price, which varies by product segment.

In order to support the returns associated with these features, the Company enters into derivative contracts whose payouts, in combination with fixed income investments, emulate those of the index, ETF or commodity price, subject to caps and buffers without any basis risk due to market exposures, thereby substantially reducing any exposure to market-related earnings volatility.

Derivatives utilized for General Account Investment Portfolio

The Company maintains a strategy in its General Account investment portfolio to replicate the credit exposure of fixed maturity securities otherwise permissible for investment under its investment guidelines through the sale of credit default swaps ("CDSs"). Under the terms of these swaps, the Company receives quarterly fixed premiums that, together with any initial amount paid or received at trade inception, replicate the credit spread otherwise currently obtainable by purchasing the referenced entity’s bonds of similar maturity. These credit derivatives generally have remaining terms of five years or less and are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value, including the yield component that emerges from initial amounts paid or received, reported in Net investment income (loss). The Company manages its credit exposure taking into consideration both cash and derivatives based positions and selects the reference entities in its replicated credit exposures in a manner consistent with its selection of fixed maturities. In addition, the Company generally transacts the sale of CDSs in single name reference entities of investment grade credit quality and with counterparties subject to collateral posting requirements. If there is an event of default by the reference entity or other such credit event as defined under the terms of the swap contract, the Company is obligated to perform under the credit derivative and, at the counterparty’s option, either pay the referenced amount of the contract less an auction-determined recovery amount or pay the referenced amount of the contract and receive in return the defaulted or similar security of the reference entity for recovery by sale at the contract settlement auction. To date, there have been no events of default or circumstances indicative of a deterioration in the credit quality of the named referenced entities to require or suggest that the Company will have to perform under these CDSs. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these credit derivatives is limited to the par value of the referenced securities which is the dollar or euro-equivalent of the derivative notional amount. The Standard North American CDS Contract (“SNAC”) or Standard European Corporate Contract (“STEC”) under which the Company executes these CDS sales transactions does not contain recourse provisions for recovery of amounts paid under the credit derivative.

The Company purchased 30-year TIPS and other sovereign bonds, both inflation linked and non-inflation linked, as General Account investments and enters into asset or cross-currency basis swaps, to result in payment of the given bond’s coupons and principal at maturity in the bond’s specified currency to the swap counterparty in return for fixed dollar amounts. These swaps, when considered in combination with the bonds, together result in a net position that is intended to replicate a dollar-denominated fixed-coupon cash bond with a yield higher than a term-equivalent U.S. Treasury bond. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, the Company’s unrealized gains (losses) related to this program were $86 million and $(97) million and reported in AOCI.

The Company implemented a strategy to hedge a portion of the credit exposure in its General Account investment portfolio by buying protection through a swap. These are swaps on the “super senior tranche” of the investment grade CDX index. Under the terms of these swaps, the Company pays quarterly fixed premiums that, together with any initial amount paid or received at trade inception, serve as premiums paid to hedge the risk arising from multiple defaults of bonds referenced in the CDX index. These credit derivatives have terms of five years or less and are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value, including the yield component that emerges from initial amounts paid or received, reported in Net derivative gains (losses).

In 2016, the Company implemented a program to mitigate its duration gap using total return swaps for which the reference U.S. Treasury securities are sold to the swap counterparty under arrangements economically similar to repurchase agreements. As these transactions result in a transfer of control of the U.S. Treasury securities to the swap counterparty, the Company derecognizes these securities with consequent gain or loss from the sale. Under this program, the Company derecognized approximately $3,905 million of U.S. Treasury securities for which the Company received proceeds of approximately $3,905 million at inception of the total return swap contract. Under the terms of these swaps, the Company retains ongoing exposure to the total returns of the underlying U.S. Treasury securities in exchange for a financing cost. At December 31, 2017, the aggregate fair value of U.S. Treasury securities derecognized under this program was approximately $3,796 million. Reported in Other invested assets in the Company's balance sheet at December 31, 2017 is approximately $(23) million, representing the fair value of the total return swap contracts.

The tables below present quantitative disclosures about the Company’s derivative instruments, including those embedded in other contracts required to be accounted for as derivative instruments:

Derivative Instruments by Category

At or For the Year Ended December 31, 2017



			Fair Value
	Notional Amount		Asset Derivatives		Liability Derivatives		Gains (Losses) Reported In Income (Loss)
	(in millions)
Freestanding derivatives:
Equity contracts:⁽¹⁾
Futures	$	3,113	$	1	$	3	$	(670	)
Swaps	4,655		3		126		(848		)
Options	20,630		3,334		1,426		1,203
Interest rate contracts:⁽¹⁾
Floors	—		—		—		—
Swaps	19,032		320		191		655
Futures	11,032		—		—		125
Swaptions	—		—		—		—
Credit contracts:⁽¹⁾
Credit default swaps	2,131		35		3		19
Other freestanding contracts:⁽¹⁾
Foreign currency contracts	1,423		19		10		(39		)
Margin	—		24		—		—
Collateral	—		4		1,855		—
Embedded derivatives:
GMIB reinsurance contracts⁽⁴⁾	—		10,488		—		69
GMxB derivative features’ liability^(2,4)	—		—		4,164		1,494
SCS, SIO, MSO and IUL indexed features^(3,4)	—		—		1,698		(1,118		)
Balances, December 31, 2017	$	62,016	$	14,228	$	9,476	$	890


(1)	Reported in Other invested assets in the consolidated balance sheets.


(2)	Reported in Future policy benefits and other policyholders’ liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.


(3)	SCS and SIO indexed features are reported in Policyholders’ account balances; MSO and IUL indexed features are reported in Future policyholders’ benefits and other policyholders’ liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.


(4)	Reported in Net derivative gains (losses) in the consolidated statements of income (loss).

Derivative Instruments by Category

At or For the Year Ended December 31, 2016



			Fair Value
	Notional Amount		Asset Derivatives		Liability Derivatives		Gains (Losses) Reported In Income (Loss)
	(in millions)
Freestanding derivatives:
Equity contracts:⁽¹⁾
Futures	$	5,086	$	1	$	1	$	(826	)
Swaps	3,529		13		67		(290		)
Options	11,465		2,114		1,154		727
Interest rate contracts:⁽¹⁾
Floors	1,500		11		—		4
Swaps	18,933		246		1,163		(224		)
Futures	6,926		—		—		—
Swaptions	—		—		—		87
Credit contracts:⁽¹⁾
Credit default swaps	2,757		20		15		15
Other freestanding contracts:⁽¹⁾
Foreign currency contracts	730		52		6		45
Margin	—		113		6		—
Collateral	—		713		748		—
Embedded derivatives:
GMIB reinsurance contracts⁽⁴⁾	—		10,314		—		(261		)
GMxB derivative features’ liability^(2,4)	—		—		5,319		140
SCS, SIO, MSO and IUL indexed features^(3,4)	—		—		887		(628		)
Balances, December 31, 2016	$	50,926	$	13,597	$	9,366	$	(1,211	)


(1)	Reported in Other invested assets in the consolidated balance sheets.


(2)	Reported in Future policy benefits and other policyholders’ liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.


(3)	SCS and SIO indexed features are reported in Policyholders’ account balances; MSO and IUL indexed features are reported in Future policyholders’ benefits and other policyholders’ liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.


(4)	Reported in Net derivative gains (losses) in the consolidated statements of income (loss).

For 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, Net derivative gain (losses) from derivatives included $(1,156) million, $(4) million and $474 million of realized gains (losses) on contracts closed during those periods and $1,601 million, $(458) million and $(555) million of unrealized gains (losses) on derivative positions at each respective year end.

Equity-Based and Treasury Futures Contracts Margin

All outstanding equity-based and treasury futures contracts at December 31, 2017 are exchange-traded and net settled daily in cash. At December 31, 2017, the Company had open exchange-traded futures positions on: (i) the S&P 500, Russell 2000 and Emerging Market indices, having initial margin requirements of $97 million, (ii) the 2-year, 5-year and 10-year U.S. Treasury Notes on U.S. Treasury bonds and ultra-long bonds, having initial margin requirements of $10 million and (iii) the Euro Stoxx, FTSE 100, Topix, ASX 200 and European, Australasia, and Far East (“EAFE”) indices as well as corresponding currency futures on the Euro/U.S. dollar, Pound/U.S. dollar, Australian dollar/U.S. dollar, and Yen/U.S. dollar, having initial margin requirements of $13 million.

Credit Risk

Although notional amount is the most commonly used measure of volume in the derivatives market, it is not used as a measure of credit risk. A derivative with positive fair value (a derivative asset) indicates existence of credit risk because the counterparty would owe money to the Company if the contract were closed at the reporting date. Alternatively, a derivative contract with negative fair value (a derivative liability) indicates the Company would owe money to the counterparty if the contract were closed at the reporting date. To reduce credit exposures in Over-the-Counter (“OTC”) derivative transactions the Company generally enters into master agreements that provide for a netting of financial exposures with the counterparty and allow for collateral arrangements as further described below under “ISDA Master Agreements.” The Company further controls and minimizes its counterparty exposure through a credit appraisal and approval process.

ISDA Master Agreements

Netting Provisions. The standardized ISDA Master Agreement under which the Company conducts its OTC derivative transactions includes provisions for payment netting. In the normal course of business activities, if there is more than one derivative transaction with a single counterparty, the Company will set-off the cash flows of those derivatives into a single amount to be exchanged in settlement of the resulting net payable or receivable with that counterparty. In the event of default, insolvency, or other similar event pre-defined under the ISDA Master Agreement that would result in termination of OTC derivatives transactions before their maturity, netting procedures would be applied to calculate a single net payable or receivable with the counterparty.

Collateral Arrangements. The Company generally has executed a CSA under the ISDA Master Agreement, it maintains with each of its OTC derivative counterparties that requires both posting and accepting collateral either in the form of cash or high-quality securities, such as U.S. Treasury securities, U.S. government and government agency securities and investment grade corporate bonds. These CSAs are bilateral agreements that require collateral postings by the party “out-of-the-money” or in a net derivative liability position. Various thresholds for the amount and timing of collateralization of net liability positions are applicable. Consequently, the credit exposure of the Company’s OTC derivative contracts is limited to the net positive estimated fair value of those contracts at the reporting date after taking into consideration the existence of netting agreements and any collateral received pursuant to CSAs. Derivatives are recognized at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets and are reported either as assets in Other invested assets or as liabilities in Other liabilities, except for embedded insurance-related derivatives as described above and derivatives transacted with a related counterparty. The Company nets the fair value of all derivative financial instruments with counterparties for which an ISDA Master Agreement and related CSA have been executed.

At December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, the Company held $1,855 million and $755 million in cash and securities collateral delivered by trade counterparties, representing the fair value of the related derivative agreements. This unrestricted cash collateral is reported in Cash and cash equivalents. The aggregate fair value of all collateralized derivative transactions that were in a liability position with trade counterparties as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, were $2 million and $700 million, for which the Company posted collateral of $3 million and $820 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, in the normal operation of its collateral arrangements. Certain of the Company’s ISDA Master Agreements contain contingent provisions that permit the counterparty to terminate the ISDA Master Agreement if the Company’s credit rating falls below a specified threshold, however, the occurrence of such credit event would not impose additional collateral requirements.

Margin

Effective January 3, 2017, the CME amended its rulebook, resulting in the characterization of variation margin transfers as settlement payments, as opposed to adjustments to collateral. These amendments impacted the accounting treatment of the Company's centrally cleared derivatives for which the CME serves as the central clearing party. As of the effective date, the application of the amended rulebook reduced gross derivative assets by $18 million.

Securities Repurchase and Reverse Repurchase Transactions

Securities repurchase and reverse repurchase transactions are conducted by the Company under a standardized securities industry master agreement, amended to suit the specificities of each respective counterparty. These agreements generally provide detail as to the nature of the transaction, including provisions for payment netting, establish parameters concerning the ownership and custody of the collateral securities, including the right to substitute collateral during the term of the agreement, and provide for remedies in the event of default by either party. Amounts due to/from the same counterparty under these arrangements generally would be netted in the event of default and subject to rights of set-off in bankruptcy. The Company’s securities repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are accounted for as secured borrowing or lending arrangements, respectively and are reported in the consolidated balance sheets on a gross basis. The Company obtains or posts collateral generally in the form of cash and U.S. Treasury, corporate and government agency securities. The fair value of the securities to be repurchased or resold are monitored on a daily basis with additional collateral posted or obtained as necessary. Securities to be repurchased or resold are the same, or substantially the same, as those initially transacted under the arrangement. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the balance outstanding under securities repurchase transactions was $1,887 million and $1,996 million, respectively. The Company utilized these repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements for asset liability and cash management purposes. For other instruments used for asset liability management purposes, see “Policyholders’ Account Balances and Future Policy Benefits” included in Note 2.

The following table presents information about the Company's offsetting of financial assets and liabilities and derivative instruments at December 31, 2017.

Offsetting of Financial Assets and Liabilities and Derivative Instruments

At December 31, 2017



	Gross Amounts Recognized		Gross Amounts Offset in the Balance Sheets		Net Amounts Presented in the Balance Sheets
	(in millions)
ASSETS⁽¹⁾
Derivatives:
Equity contracts	$	3,339	$	1,555	$	1,784
Interest rate contracts	320		191		129
Credit contracts	35		3		32
Currency	19		10		9
Collateral	3		1,855		(1,852		)
Margin	24		—		24
Total Derivatives, subject to an ISDA Master Agreement	3,740		3,614		126

Total Derivatives	3,740		3,614		126
Other financial instruments	2,995		—		2,995
Other invested assets	$	6,735	$	3,614	$	3,121
Total Derivatives, not subject to an ISDA Master Agreement	$	—	$	—	$	—
Securities purchased under agreement to resell	$	—	—		$	—



	Gross Amounts Recognized		Gross Amounts Offset in the Balance Sheets		Net Amounts Presented in the Balance Sheets
	(in millions)
LIABILITIES⁽²⁾
Derivatives:
Equity contracts	$	1,555	$	1,555	$	—
Interest rate contracts	191		191		—
Credit contracts	3		3		—
Currency	10		10		—
Margin	—		—		—
Collateral	1,855		1,855		—
Total Derivatives, subject to an ISDA Master Agreement	3,614		3,614		—
Total Derivatives, not subject to an ISDA Master Agreement	—		—		—
Total Derivatives	3,614		3,614		—
Other non-financial liabilities	2,663		—		2,663
Other liabilities	$	6,277	$	3,614	$	2,663

Securities sold under agreement to repurchase⁽³⁾	$	1,882	$	—	$	1,882


(1)	Excludes Investment Management and Research segment’s derivative assets of consolidated VIEs/VOEs.


(2)	Excludes Investment Management and Research segment’s derivative liabilities of consolidated VIEs/VOEs.


(3)	Excludes expense of $5 million in securities sold under agreement to repurchase.

The following table presents information about the Company’s gross collateral amounts that are not offset in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2017:

Collateral Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets

At December 31, 2017



	Fair Value of Assets		Collateral (Received)/Held
	Fair Value of Assets		Financial Instruments			Cash			Net Amounts
	(in millions)
ASSETS⁽¹⁾
Total Derivatives	$	1,954	$	—		$	(1,828	)	$	126
Other financial instruments	2,995		—			—			2,995
Other invested assets	$	4,949	$	—		$	(1,828	)	$	3,121

Liabilities:⁽²⁾
Other Derivatives	$	—	$	—		$	—		$	—
Other financial liabilities	2,663		—			—			2,663
Other liabilities	2,663		—			—			2,663
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase⁽³⁾	$	1,882	$	(1,988	)	$	(21	)	$	(127	)


(1)	Excludes Investment Management and Research segment’s derivative assets of consolidated VIEs/VOEs.


(2)	Excludes Investment Management and Research segment’s derivative liabilities of consolidated VIEs/VOEs.


(3)	Excludes expense of $5 million in securities sold under agreement to repurchase.

The following table presents information about repurchase agreements accounted for as secured borrowings in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2017:

Repurchase Agreement Accounted for as Secured Borrowings



	At December 31, 2017
	Remaining Contractual Maturity of the Agreements
	Overnight and Continuous		Up to 30 days				30-90 days				Greater Than 90 days				Total
	(In millions)
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase⁽¹⁾
U.S. Treasury and agency securities	$	—	$	1,882			$	—			$	—			$	1,882
Total	$	—	$	1,882	$	1	$	—	$	2	$	—	$	3	$	1,882


(1)	Excludes expense of $5 million in securities sold under agreement to repurchase.

The following table presents information about the Company’s offsetting of financial assets and liabilities and derivative instruments at December 31, 2016:

Offsetting of Financial Assets and Liabilities and Derivative Instruments

At December 31, 2016



	Gross Amounts Recognized		Gross Amounts Offset in the Balance Sheets		Net Amounts Presented in the Balance Sheets
	(in millions)
ASSETS⁽¹⁾
Derivatives:
Equity contracts	$	2,128	$	1,221	$	907
Interest rate contracts	246		1,163		(917		)
Credit contracts	20		15		5
Currency	52		6		46
Margin	113		6		107
Collateral	713		748		(35		)
Total Derivatives, subject to an ISDA Master Agreement	3,272		3,159		113
Total Derivatives, not subject to an ISDA Master Agreement	11		—		11
Total Derivatives	3,283		3,159		124
Other financial instruments	2,102		—		2,102
Other invested assets	$	5,385	$	3,159	$	2,226

Securities purchased under agreement to resell	$	—	$	—	$	—



	Gross Amounts Recognized		Gross Amounts Offset in the Balance Sheets		Net Amounts Presented in the Balance Sheets
	(in millions)
LIABILITIES⁽²⁾
Description
Derivatives:
Equity contracts	$	1,221	$	1,221	$	—
Interest rate contracts	1,163		1,163		—
Credit contracts	15		15		—
Currency	6		6		—
Margin	6		6		—
Collateral	748		748		—
Total Derivatives, subject to an ISDA Master Agreement	3,159		3,159		—
Total Derivatives, not subject to an ISDA Master Agreement	—		—		—
Total Derivatives	3,159		3,159		—
Other non-financial liabilities	2,108		—		2,108
Other liabilities	$	5,267	$	3,159	$	2,108

Securities sold under agreement to repurchase⁽³⁾	$	1,992	$	—	$	1,992


(1)	Excludes Investment Management and Research segment’s derivative assets of consolidated VIEs/VOEs.


(2)	Excludes Investment Management and Research segment’s derivative liabilities of consolidated VIEs/VOEs.


(3)	Excludes expense of $4 million in securities sold under agreement to repurchase.

The following table presents information about the Insurance segment’s gross collateral amounts that are not offset in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2016:

Gross Collateral Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets

At December 31, 2016



	Fair Value of Assets		Collateral (Received)/Held
	Fair Value of Assets		Financial Instruments			Cash			Net Amounts
	(in millions)
ASSETS⁽¹⁾
Total Derivatives	$	54	$	—		$	70		$	124
Other financial instruments	2,102		—			—			2,102
Other invested assets	$	2,156	$	—		$	70		$	2,226
LIABILITIES⁽²⁾

Securities sold under agreement to repurchase⁽³⁾	$	1,992	$	(1,986	)	$	(2	)	$	4


(1)	Excludes Investment Management and Research segment’s derivative assets of consolidated VIEs/VOEs.


(2)	Excludes Investment Management and Research segment’s derivative liabilities of consolidated VIEs/VOEs.


(3)	Excludes expense of $4 million in securities sold under agreement to repurchase.

The following table presents information about repurchase agreements accounted for as secured borrowings in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2016.

Repurchase Agreement Accounted for as Secured Borrowings⁽¹⁾



	At December 31, 2016
	Remaining Contractual Maturity of the Agreements
	Overnight and Continuous			Up to 30 days		30-90 days		Greater Than 90 days		Total
			(in millions)
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase
U.S. Treasury and agency securities	$	—		$	1,992	$	—	$	—	$	1,992
Total	$	—		$	1,992	$	—	$	—	$	1,992


(1)	Excludes expense of $4 million in securities sold under agreement to repurchase.

Net Investment Income (Loss)

The following table breaks out Net investment income (loss) by asset category:



	Twelve Months Ended December 31
	2017			2016			2015
	(in millions)
Fixed maturities	$	1,365		$	1,418		$	1,420
Mortgage loans on real estate	453			461			338
Real estate held for the production of income	2			—			—
Repurchase agreement	—			1			1
Other equity investments	188			170			84
Policy loans	205			210			213
Trading securities	381			80			17
Other investment income	54			44			40
Gross investment income (loss)	2,648			2,384			2,113
Investment expenses	(65		)	(66		)	(56		)
Net Investment Income (Loss)	$	2,583		$	2,318		$	2,057

Net unrealized and realized gains (losses) on trading account equity securities are included in Net investment income (loss) in the consolidated statements of income (loss). The table below shows a breakdown of Net investment income from trading account securities during the years ended 2017, 2016 and 2015:

Net Investment Income (Loss) from Trading Securities



	Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(in millions)
Net investment gains (losses) recognized during the period on securities held at the end of the period	$	171		$	(19	)	$	(63	)
Net investment gains (losses) recognized on securities sold during the period	(5		)	(22		)	20
Unrealized and realized gains (losses) on trading securities	166			(41		)	(43		)
Interest and dividend income from trading securities	215			121			60
Net investment income (loss) from trading securities	$	381		$	80		$	17

Investment Gains (Losses), Net

Investment gains (losses), net including changes in the valuation allowances and OTTI are as follows:



	Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(in millions)
Fixed maturities	$	(130	)	$	(3	)	$	(17	)
Mortgage loans on real estate	2			(2		)	(1		)
Other equity investments	3			(2		)	(5		)
Other	—			23			3
Investment Gains (Losses), Net	$	(125	)	$	16		$	(20	)

For 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, investment results passed through to certain participating group annuity contracts as interest credited to policyholders’ account balances totaled $3 million, $4 million and $4 million.