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 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 purchased and sold under resale and repurchase agreements, certain fixed-rate long-term debt issuances and all of our hybrid instruments, including structured notes and deposits. Excluding the fair value movement on fair value option liabilities attributable to our own credit spread, which as a result of adopting new accounting guidance is recorded in other comprehensive income beginning January 1, 2017, changes in the fair value of fair value option assets and liabilities 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 (loss). Prior to January 1, 2017, the fair value movement on fair value option liabilities attributable to our own credit spread changes was reported in gain (loss) on instruments designated at fair value and related derivatives.

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 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 (loss). 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 December 31, 2019 and 2018, 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 (loss). 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 (loss). Excluding the fair value movement attributable to our own credit spread, the components of gain (loss) in the consolidated statement of income (loss) 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 (loss). Excluding the fair value movement attributable to our own credit spread, the components of gain (loss) in the consolidated statement of income (loss) 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 December 31, 2019
Commercial loans held for sale	$	178	$	189	$	(11	)
Securities sold under repurchase agreements	373		373		—
Fixed rate long-term debt	959		741		218
Hybrid instruments:
Structured deposits	7,209		7,491		(282		)
Structured notes	9,388		8,187		1,201
At December 31, 2018
Commercial loans held for sale	$	109	$	120	$	(11	)
Securities sold under repurchase agreements	560		560		—
Fixed rate long-term debt	1,935		1,750		185
Hybrid instruments:
Structured deposits	8,154		8,441		(287		)
Structured notes	9,314		9,546		(232		)

Components of Gain (Loss) on Instruments Designated 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 (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017:



	Loans			Securities Purchased Under Resale Agreements			Securities Sold Under Repurchase Agreements		Long-Term Debt			Hybrid Instruments			Total
	(in millions)
Year Ended December 31, 2019
Interest rate and other components⁽¹⁾	$	—		$	—		$	—	$	(200	)	$	(1,986	)	$	(2,186	)
Credit risk component⁽²⁾	3			—			—		—			—			3
Total mark-to-market on financial instruments designated at fair value	3			—			—		(200		)	(1,986		)	(2,183		)
Mark-to-market on related derivatives	—			—			—		148			1,983			2,131
Net realized gain on related long-term debt derivatives	—			—			—		39			—			39
Gain (loss) on instruments designated at fair value and related derivatives	$	3		$	—		$	—	$	(13	)	$	(3	)	$	(13	)

Year Ended December 31, 2018
Interest rate and other components⁽¹⁾	$	—		$	—		$	1	$	99		$	1,035		$	1,135
Credit risk component⁽²⁾	(4		)	—			—		—			—			(4		)
Total mark-to-market on financial instruments designated at fair value	(4		)	—			1		99			1,035			1,131
Mark-to-market on related derivatives	—			—			—		(95		)	(1,062		)	(1,157		)
Net realized gain on related long-term debt derivatives	—			—			—		45			—			45
Gain (loss) on instruments designated at fair value and related derivatives	$	(4	)	$	—		$	1	$	49		$	(27	)	$	19

Year Ended December 31, 2017
Interest rate and other components⁽¹⁾	$	—		$	(1	)	$	2	$	6		$	(1,151	)	$	(1,144	)
Credit risk component⁽²⁾	(2		)	—			—		—			—			(2		)
Total mark-to-market on financial instruments designated at fair value	(2		)	(1		)	2		6			(1,151		)	(1,146		)
Mark-to-market on related derivatives	—			—			—		(31		)	1,163			1,132
Net realized gain on related long-term debt derivatives	—			—			—		57			—			57
Gain (loss) on instruments designated at fair value and related derivatives	$	(2	)	$	(1	)	$	2	$	32		$	12		$	43


⁽¹⁾	As it relates to hybrid instruments, interest rate and other components primarily includes interest rate, foreign exchange and equity contract risks.


⁽²⁾	The fair value movement on fair value option liabilities attributable to our own credit spread is recorded in other comprehensive income.