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Fair Value Option
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Fair Value Option [Abstract]  
Fair Value Option
Fair Value Option
 
We report our results to HSBC in accordance with HSBC Group accounting and reporting policies ("Group Reporting Basis"), which apply International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRSs") as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") and as endorsed by the European Union ("EU"). We typically have elected to apply fair value option ("FVO") accounting to selected financial instruments to align the measurement attributes of those instruments under U.S. GAAP and the Group Reporting Basis and to simplify the accounting model applied to those financial instruments. We elected to apply FVO accounting to certain commercial loans held for sale, certain securities sold under repurchase agreements, certain fixed-rate long-term debt issuances and all of our hybrid instruments, including structured notes and deposits. Prior to January 1, 2017, changes in the fair value of these assets and liabilities, including changes in fair value related to interest rate, credit and other risks, as well as the mark-to-market adjustment on the related derivatives and the net realized gains or losses on these derivatives are reported in gain (loss) on instruments designated at fair value and related derivatives in the consolidated statement of income. As discussed more fully in Note 20, "New Accounting Pronouncements," beginning January 1, 2017, the fair value movement on fair value option liabilities attributable to our own credit spread is recorded in other comprehensive income (loss).
Loans  We elected to apply FVO accounting to certain commercial syndicated loans which are originated with the intent to sell and certain commercial loans that we purchased from the secondary market and hold as hedges against our exposure to certain total return swaps and include these loans as loans held for sale in the consolidated balance sheet. The election allows us to account for these loans at fair value which is consistent with the manner in which the instruments are managed. Where available, fair value is based on observable market consensus pricing obtained from independent sources, relevant broker quotes or observed market prices of instruments with similar characteristics. Where observable market parameters are not available, fair value is determined based on contractual cash flows adjusted for estimates of prepayment rates, expected default rates and loss severity discounted at management's estimate of the expected rate of return required by market participants. We also consider loan specific risk mitigating factors such as collateral arrangements in determining the fair value estimate. Interest from these loans is recorded as interest income in the consolidated statement of income. Because a substantial majority of the loans elected for the fair value option are floating rate assets, changes in their fair value are primarily attributable to changes in loan-specific credit risk factors. The components of gain (loss) related to loans designated at fair value are summarized in the table below. At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, no loans for which the fair value option has been elected were 90 days or more past due or in nonaccrual status.
Resale and Repurchase Agreements We elected to apply FVO accounting to certain securities purchased and sold under resale and repurchase agreements which are trading in nature. The election allows us to account for these resale and repurchase agreements at fair value which is consistent with the manner in which the instruments are managed. The fair value of the resale and repurchase agreements is determined using market rates currently offered on comparable transactions with similar underlying collateral and maturities. Interest on these resale and repurchase agreements is recorded as interest income or expense in the consolidated statement of income. The components of gain (loss) related to these resale and repurchase agreements designated at fair value are summarized in the table below.
Long-Term Debt (Own Debt Issuances)  We elected to apply FVO accounting for certain fixed-rate long-term debt for which we had applied or otherwise would elect to apply fair value hedge accounting. The election allows us to achieve a similar accounting effect without having to meet the hedge accounting requirements. The own debt issuances elected under FVO are traded in secondary markets and, as such, the fair value is determined based on observed prices for the specific instruments. The observed market price of these instruments reflects the effect of changes to our own credit spreads and interest rates. Interest on the fixed-rate debt accounted for under FVO is recorded as interest expense in the consolidated statement of income. The components of gain (loss) in the consolidated statement of income related to long-term debt designated at fair value are summarized in the table below.
Hybrid Instruments  We elected to apply FVO accounting to all of our hybrid instruments issued, including structured notes and deposits. The valuation of the hybrid instruments is predominantly driven by the derivative features embedded within the instruments and our own credit risk. Cash flows of the hybrid instruments in their entirety, including the embedded derivatives, are discounted at an appropriate rate for the applicable duration of the instrument adjusted for our own credit spreads. The credit spreads applied to structured notes are determined with reference to our own debt issuance rates observed in the primary and secondary markets, internal funding rates, and structured note rates in recent executions while the credit spreads applied to structured deposits are determined using market rates currently offered on comparable deposits with similar characteristics and maturities. Interest on this debt is recorded as interest expense in the consolidated statement of income. The components of gain (loss) in the consolidated statement of income related to hybrid instruments designated at fair value are summarized in the table below.
The following table summarizes the fair value and unpaid principal balance for items we account for under FVO:
 
Fair Value
 
Unpaid Principal Balance
 
Fair Value over (under) Unpaid Principal Balance
 
(in millions)
At September 30, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial loans held for sale
$
375

 
$
384

 
$
(9
)
Securities purchased under resale agreements
1,309

 
1,303

 
6

Securities sold under repurchase agreements
3,609

 
3,609

 

Fixed rate long-term debt
2,162

 
1,750

 
412

Hybrid instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
Structured deposits
7,628

 
7,682

 
(54
)
Structured notes
10,196

 
9,201

 
995

At December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial loans held for sale
$
725

 
$
728

 
$
(3
)
Securities purchased under resale agreements
770

 
767

 
3

Securities sold under repurchase agreements
2,672

 
2,670

 
2

Fixed rate long-term debt
2,012

 
1,750

 
262

Hybrid instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
Structured deposits
7,526

 
7,881

 
(355
)
Structured notes
8,372

 
8,067

 
305


Components of Gain (loss) on Instruments at Fair Value and Related Derivatives  The following table summarizes the components of gain (loss) on instruments designated at fair value and related derivatives reflected in the consolidated statement of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:
 
Loans
 
Securities Purchased Under Resale Agreements
 
Securities Sold Under Repurchase Agreements
 
Long-Term
Debt
 
Hybrid
Instruments
 
Total
 
(in millions)
Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate and other components(1)
$

 
$
(1
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
(355
)
 
$
(356
)
Credit risk component(2)
(1
)
 

 

 

 

 
(1
)
Total mark-to-market on financial instruments designated at fair value
(1
)
 
(1
)
 

 

 
(355
)
 
(357
)
Mark-to-market on the related derivatives

 

 

 
(6
)
 
354

 
348

Net realized gain on the related long-term debt derivatives

 

 

 
16

 

 
16

Gain (loss) on instruments designated at fair value and related derivatives
$
(1
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$

 
$
10

 
$
(1
)
 
$
7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate and other components(1)
$

 
$
(4
)
 
$
1

 
$
(5
)
 
$
(220
)
 
$
(228
)
Credit risk component
6

 

 

 
5

 
(65
)
 
(54
)
Total mark-to-market on financial instruments designated at fair value
6

 
(4
)
 
1

 

 
(285
)
 
(282
)
Mark-to-market on the related derivatives

 

 

 
(10
)
 
188

 
178

Net realized gain on the related long-term debt derivatives

 

 

 
16

 

 
16

Gain (loss) on instruments designated at fair value and related derivatives
$
6

 
$
(4
)
 
$
1

 
$
6

 
$
(97
)
 
$
(88
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate and other components(1)
$

 
$
6

 
$
3

 
$
(7
)
 
$
(922
)
 
$
(920
)
Credit risk component(2)
(3
)
 

 

 

 

 
(3
)
Total mark-to-market on financial instruments designated at fair value
(3
)
 
6

 
3

 
(7
)
 
(922
)
 
(923
)
Mark-to-market on the related derivatives

 

 

 
(13
)
 
931

 
918

Net realized gain on the related long-term debt derivatives

 

 

 
45

 

 
45

Gain (loss) on instruments designated at fair value and related derivatives
$
(3
)
 
$
6

 
$
3

 
$
25

 
$
9

 
$
40

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate and other components(1)
$

 
$
1

 
$
2

 
$
(202
)
 
$
(382
)
 
$
(581
)
Credit risk component
6

 

 

 
113

 
(19
)
 
100

Total mark-to-market on financial instruments designated at fair value
6

 
1

 
2

 
(89
)
 
(401
)
 
(481
)
Mark-to-market on the related derivatives

 

 

 
184

 
339

 
523

Net realized gain on the related long-term debt derivatives

 

 

 
48

 

 
48

Gain (loss) on instruments designated at fair value and related derivatives
$
6

 
$
1

 
$
2

 
$
143

 
$
(62
)
 
$
90

 
(1) 
As it relates to hybrid instruments, interest rate and other components primarily includes interest rate, foreign exchange and equity contract risks.
(2) 
As discussed more fully in Note 20, "New Accounting Pronouncements," beginning January 1, 2017, the fair value movement on fair value option liabilities attributable to our own credit spread is recorded in common equity as a component of other comprehensive income (loss).