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Cash Equivalents
12 Months Ended
Jan. 28, 2012
Cash Equivalents.  
Cash Equivalents

9. Cash Equivalents

        Cash equivalents include highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less from the time of purchase. These investments were $194 million and $1,129 million at January 28, 2012, and January 29, 2011, respectively. Cash equivalents also include amounts due from third-party financial institutions for credit and debit card transactions. These receivables typically settle in less than five days and were $330 million at January 28, 2012, and $313 million at January 29, 2011. Payables due to Visa resulting from the use of Target Visa Cards are included within cash equivalents and were $35 million and $36 million at January 28, 2012, and January 29, 2011, respectively.