v3.21.2
Fair Value Option
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Option
Note 10.
Fair Value Option
Other Financial Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value
In addition to trading assets and liabilities, and certain investments and loans, the firm accounts for certain of its other financial assets and liabilities at fair value, substantially all under the fair value option. The primary reasons for electing the fair value option are to:
 
 
Reflect economic events in earnings on a timely basis;
 
 
Mitigate volatility in earnings from using different measurement attributes (e.g., transfers of financial assets accounted for as financings are recorded at fair value, whereas the related secured financing would be recorded on an accrual basis absent electing the fair value option); and
 
 
Address simplification and cost-benefit considerations (e.g., accounting for hybrid financial instruments at fair value in their entirety versus bifurcation of embedded derivatives and hedge accounting for debt hosts).
Hybrid financial instruments are instruments that contain bifurcatable embedded derivatives and do not require settlement by physical delivery of nonfinancial assets (e.g., physical commodities). If the firm elects to bifurcate the embedded derivative from the associated debt, the derivative is accounted for at fair value and the host contract is accounted for at amortized cost, adjusted for the effective portion of any fair value hedges. If the firm does not elect to bifurcate, the entire hybrid financial instrument is accounted for at fair value under the fair value option.
Other financial assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value under the fair value option include:
 
 
Resale and repurchase agreements;
 
 
Certain securities borrowed and loaned transactions;
 
 
Certain customer and other receivables and certain other liabilities;
 
 
Certain time deposits (deposits with no stated maturity are not eligible for a fair value option election), including structured certificates of deposit, which are hybrid financial instruments;
 
 
Substantially all other secured financings, including transfers of assets accounted for as financings; and
 
 
Certain unsecured short- and long-term borrowings, substantially all of which are hybrid financial instruments.
Fair Value of Other Financial Assets and Liabilities by Level
The table below presents, by level within the fair value hierarchy, other financial assets and liabilities at fair value, substantially all of which are accounted for at fair value under the fair value option.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
         
$ in millions
    Level 1       Level 2       Level 3       Total  
As of September 2021
 
Assets
                               
Resale agreements
 
 
$  –
 
 
 
$ 213,062
 
 
 
$     
    
    
    
 
 
 
$ 213,062
 
Securities borrowed
 
 
 
 
 
34,437
 
 
 
 
 
 
34,437
 
Customer and other receivables
 
 
 
 
 
46
 
 
 
 
 
 
46
 
Total
 
 
$  –
 
 
 
$ 247,545
 
 
 
$     
    
    
    
 
 
 
$ 247,545
 
 
Liabilities
                               
Deposits
 
 
$  –
 
 
 
$  (30,441
 
 
$  (3,637
 
 
$  (34,078
Repurchase agreements
 
 
 
 
 
(167,339
 
 
 
 
 
(167,339
Securities loaned
 
 
 
 
 
(7,298
 
 
 
 
 
(7,298
Other secured financings
 
 
 
 
 
(15,568
 
 
(2,640
 
 
(18,208
Unsecured borrowings:
                               
Short-term
 
 
 
 
 
(21,778
 
 
(8,669
 
 
(30,447
Long-term
 
 
 
 
 
(38,654
 
 
(9,226
 
 
(47,880
Other liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
(1
 
 
(165
 
 
(166
Total
 
 
$  –
 
 
 
$(281,079
 
 
$(24,337
 
 
$(305,416
 
As of December 2020
                               
Assets
                               
Resale agreements
    $  –       $
    
 108,060
      $     
    
    
    
      $
    
 108,060
 
Securities borrowed
          28,898             28,898  
Customer and other receivables
          82             82  
Total
    $  –       $
    
 137,040
      $     
    
    
    
      $
    
 137,040
 
 
Liabilities
                               
Deposits
    $  –       $
    
  (11,955
    $
    
  (4,221
    $
    
  (16,176
Repurchase agreements
          (126,569     (2     (126,571
Securities loaned
          (1,053           (1,053
Other secured financings
          (20,652     (3,474     (24,126
Unsecured borrowings:
                             
Short-term
          (19,227     (7,523     (26,750
Long-term
          (28,335     (12,576     (40,911
Other liabilities
          (1     (262     (263
Total
    $  –       $
 
(207,792
    $
    
(28,058
    $
 
(235,850
In the table above, other financial assets are shown as positive amounts and other financial liabilities are shown as negative amounts.
See Note 4 for an overview of the firm’s fair value measurement policies and the valuation techniques and significant inputs used to determine the fair value of other financial assets and liabilities.
Significant Unobservable Inputs
See below for information about the significant unobservable inputs used to value level 3 other financial assets and liabilities at fair value as of both September 2021 and December 2020.
Other Secured Financings.
The ranges and weighted averages of significant unobservable inputs used to value level 3 other secured financings are presented below. These ranges and weighted averages exclude unobservable inputs that are only relevant to a single instrument, and therefore are not meaningful.
As of September 2021:
 
 
Yield: 1.4% to 6.4% (weighted average: 2.5%)
 
 
Duration: 0.9 to 7.4 years (weighted average: 3.9 years)
As of December 2020:
 
 
Yield: 1.4% to 7.1% (weighted average: 2.7%)
 
 
Duration: 1.4 to 8.0 years (weighted average: 4.0 years)
Generally, increases in yield or duration, in isolation, would have resulted in a lower fair value measurement as of
period-end.
Due to the distinctive nature of each of level 3 other secured financings, the interrelationship of inputs is not necessarily uniform across such financings. See Note 11 for further information about other secured financings.
Deposits, Unsecured Borrowings and Other Liabilities.
Substantially all of the firm’s deposits, unsecured short- and long-term borrowings, and other liabilities that are classified in level 3 are hybrid financial instruments. As the significant unobservable inputs used to value hybrid financial instruments primarily relate to the embedded derivative component of these deposits, unsecured borrowings and other liabilities, these unobservable inputs are incorporated in the firm’s derivative disclosures in Note 7. See Note 13 for further information about deposits, Note 14 for further information about unsecured borrowings and Note 15 for further information about other liabilities.
Repurchase Agreements.
As of September 2021, the firm had no level 3 repurchase agreements. As of December 2020, the firm’s level 3 repurchase agreements were not material. 
Level 3 Rollforward
The table below presents a summary of the changes in fair value for level 3 other financial liabilities accounted for at fair value.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
   
Three Months
Ended September
         
Nine Months
Ended September
 
           
$ in millions
 
 
2021
 
    2020               
 
2021
 
    2020  
Beginning balance
 
 
$(28,136
    $(25,963          
 
$(28,058
    $(21,036
Net realized gains/(losses)
 
 
(181
    (112          
 
(388
    (244
Net unrealized gains/(losses)
 
 
819
 
    (354          
 
822
 
    347  
Issuances
 
 
(4,856
    (6,974          
 
(11,797
    (18,633
Settlements
 
 
6,742
 
    6,911            
 
13,325
 
    14,348  
Transfers into level 3
 
 
(570
    (1,756          
 
(745
    (2,857
Transfers out of level 3
 
 
1,845
 
    344    
 
 
 
 
 
2,504
 
    171  
Ending balance
 
 
$(24,337
    $(27,904  
 
 
 
 
 
$(24,337
    $(27,904
In the table above:
 
 
Changes in fair value are presented for all other financial liabilities that are classified in level 3 as of the end of the period.
 
 
Net unrealized gains/(losses) relates to other financial liabilities that were still held at
period-end.
 
 
Transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy are reported at the beginning of the reporting period in which they occur. If a financial liability was transferred to level 3 during a reporting period, its entire gain or loss for the period is classified in level 3.
 
 
For level 3 other financial liabilities, increases are shown as negative amounts, while decreases are shown as positive amounts.
 
 
Level 3 other financial liabilities are frequently economically hedged with trading assets and liabilities. Accordingly, gains or losses that are classified in level 3 can be partially offset by gains or losses attributable to level 1, 2 or 3 trading assets and liabilities. As a result, gains or losses included in the level 3 rollforward below do not necessarily represent the overall impact on the firm’s results of operations, liquidity or capital resources.
The table below presents information, by the consolidated balance sheet line items, for liabilities included in the summary table above.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
   
Three Months
Ended September
            
Nine Months
Ended September
 
           
$ in millions
 
 
2021
 
    2020    
 
 
 
 
 
2021
 
    2020  
Deposits
 
Beginning balance
 
 
$  (3,908
    $  (4,217          
 
$  (4,221
    $  (4,023
Net realized gains/(losses)
 
 
(8
    (4          
 
(23
     
Net unrealized gains/(losses)
 
 
74
 
    (68          
 
(28
    (142
Issuances
 
 
(144
    (124          
 
(341
    (4,054
Settlements
 
 
307
 
    235            
 
904
 
    4,083  
Transfers into level 3
 
 
 
    (38          
 
(23
    (69
Transfers out of level 3
 
 
42
 
    66    
 
 
 
 
 
95
 
    55  
Ending balance
 
 
$  (3,637
    $  (4,150  
 
 
 
 
 
$  (3,637
    $  (4,150
Repurchase agreements
Beginning balance
 
 
$          –
 
    $       (10          
 
$        
 
(2
    $       (30
Net unrealized gains/(losses)
 
 
 
               
 
 
    (2
Settlements
 
 
 
    8    
 
 
 
 
 
2
 
    30  
Ending balance
 
 
$          –
 
    $         (2  
 
 
 
 
 
$          –
 
    $         (2
Other secured financings
 
Beginning balance
 
 
$  (2,891
    $  (1,773          
 
$  (3,474
    $     (386
Net realized gains/(losses)
 
 
3
 
    7            
 
(1
    13  
Net unrealized gains/(losses)
 
 
30
 
    (67          
 
71
 
    (12
Issuances
 
 
(43
    (10          
 
(101
    (847
Settlements
 
 
414
 
    79            
 
657
 
    332  
Transfers into level 3
 
 
(233
    (1,299          
 
(243
    (2,163
Transfers out of level 3
 
 
80
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
451
 
     
Ending balance
 
 
$  (2,640
    $  (3,063  
 
 
 
 
 
$  (2,640
    $  (3,063
Unsecured short-term borrowings
Beginning balance
 
 
$(11,461
    $  (6,806          
 
$  (7,523
    $  (5,707
Net realized gains/(losses)
 
 
(112
    (58          
 
(168
    (109
Net unrealized gains/(losses)
 
 
429
 
    (42          
 
334
 
    458  
Issuances
 
 
(3,453
    (4,879          
 
(8,042
    (7,605
Settlements
 
 
4,846
 
    4,295            
 
6,399
 
    5,571  
Transfers into level 3
 
 
(200
    (280          
 
(183
    (234
Transfers out of level 3
 
 
1,282
 
    196    
 
 
 
 
 
514
 
    52  
Ending balance
 
 
$  (8,669
    $  (7,574  
 
 
 
 
 
$  (8,669
    $  (7,574
Unsecured long-term borrowings
Beginning balance
 
 
$  (9,714
    $(12,837          
 
$(12,576
    $(10,741
Net realized gains/(losses)
 
 
(64
    (64          
 
(196
    (171
Net unrealized gains/(losses)
 
 
289
 
    (167          
 
348
 
    225  
Issuances
 
 
(1,216
    (1,949          
 
(3,313
    (6,099
Settlements
 
 
1,175
 
    2,294            
 
5,363
 
    4,332  
Transfers into level 3
 
 
(137
    (139          
 
(296
    (390
Transfers out of level 3
 
 
441
 
    82    
 
 
 
 
 
1,444
 
    64  
Ending balance
 
 
$  (9,226
    $(12,780  
 
 
 
 
 
$  (9,226
    $(12,780
Other liabilities
Beginning balance
 
 
$    
 
(162
    $     (320          
 
$    
 
(262
    $     (149
Net realized gains/(losses)
 
 
 
    7            
 
 
    23  
Net unrealized gains/(losses)
 
 
(3
    (10          
 
97
 
    (180
Issuances
 
 
 
    (12          
 
 
    (28
Transfers into level 3
 
 
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
    (1
Ending balance
 
 
$    
 
(165
    $     (335  
 
 
 
 
 
$    
 
(165
    $     (335
Level 3 Rollforward Commentary
Three Months Ended September 2021.
The net realized and unrealized gains on level 3 other financial liabilities of $638 million (reflecting $181 million of net realized losses and $819 million of net unrealized gains) for the three months ended September 2021 included gains/(losses) of $599 million reported in market making, $19 million reported in other principal transactions and $(5) million reported in interest expense in the consolidated statements of earnings and $25 million reported in debt valuation adjustment in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. 
The net unrealized gains on level 3 other financial liabilities for the three months ended September 2021 primarily reflected gains on certain hybrid financial instruments included in unsecured short- and long-term borrowings (principally due to higher levels of volatility and decreases in the market value of certain underlying equities). 
Transfers into level 3 other financial liabilities during the three months ended September 2021 primarily reflected transfers of certain other secured financings from level 2 (principally due to reduced price transparency of certain yield and duration inputs used to value these instruments) and certain hybrid financial instruments included in unsecured short- and long-term borrowings from level 2 (principally due to reduced price transparency of certain volatility and correlation inputs used to value these instruments).
Transfers out of level 3 other financial liabilities during the three months ended September 2021 primarily reflected transfers of certain hybrid financial instruments included in unsecured short-
 
and long-term borrowings to level 2 (principally due to increased price transparency of certain volatility and correlation inputs used to value these instruments).
Nine Months Ended September 2021.
The net realized and unrealized gains on level 3 other financial liabilities of $434 million (reflecting $388 million of net realized losses and $822 million of net unrealized gains) for the nine months ended September 2021 included gains/(losses) of $366 million reported in market making, $49 million reported in other principal transactions and $(14) million reported in interest expense in the consolidated statements of earnings and $33 million reported in debt valuation adjustment in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
The net unrealized gains on level 3 other financial liabilities for the nine months ended September 2021 primarily reflected gains on certain hybrid financial instruments included in unsecured long- and short-term borrowings (principally due to higher levels of volatility in certain underlying equities and an increase in interest rates, partially offset by an increase in global equity prices).
Transfers into level 3 other financial liabilities during the nine months ended September 2021 primarily reflected transfers of certain hybrid financial instruments included in unsecured long-
 
and short-term borrowings from level 2 (principally due to reduced price transparency of certain volatility and correlation inputs used to value these instruments) and certain other secured financings from level 2 (principally due to reduced price transparency of certain yield and duration inputs used to value these instruments).
Transfers out of level 3 other financial liabilities during the nine months ended September 2021 primarily reflected transfers of certain hybrid financial instruments included in unsecured long- and short-term borrowings to level 2 (principally due to increased price transparency of certain volatility and correlation inputs used to value these instruments, and certain unobservable volatility inputs no longer being significant to the valuation of these instruments) and certain other secured financings to level 2 (principally due to increased price transparency of certain yield and duration inputs used to value these instruments).
Three Months Ended September 2020.
The net realized and unrealized losses on level 3 other financial liabilities of $466 million (reflecting $112 million of net realized losses and $354 million of net unrealized losses) for the three months ended September 2020 included losses of $289 million reported in market making, $32 million reported in other principal transactions and $7 million reported in interest expense in the consolidated statements of earnings, and $138 million reported in debt valuation adjustment in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
The net unrealized losses on level 3 other financial liabilities for the three months ended September 2020 primarily reflected losses on certain hybrid financial instruments included in unsecured long-term borrowings (principally due to an increase in global equity prices) and losses on certain hybrid financial instruments included in deposits and other secured financings (in each case, principally due to an increase in the market value of the underlying assets).
Transfers into level 3 other financial liabilities during the three months ended September 2020 primarily reflected transfers of certain other secured financings from level 2 (principally due to reduced price transparency of certain yield and duration inputs used to value these instruments) and certain hybrid financial instruments included in unsecured short- and long-term borrowings from level 2 (principally due to reduced price transparency of certain volatility and correlation inputs used to value these instruments).
Transfers out of level 3 other financial liabilities during the three months ended September 2020 primarily reflected transfers of certain hybrid financial instruments included in unsecured short-term borrowings to level 2 (principally due to increased price transparency of certain volatility and correlation inputs used to value these instruments). 
Nine Months Ended September 2020.
The net realized and unrealized gains on level 3 other financial liabilities of $103 million (reflecting $244 million of net realized losses and $347 million of net unrealized gains) for the nine months ended September 2020 included gains/(losses) of $(38) million reported in market making, $27 million reported in other principal transactions and $(12) million reported in interest expense in the consolidated statements of earnings, and $126 million reported in debt valuation adjustment in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
The net unrealized gains on level 3 other financial liabilities for the nine months ended September 2020 primarily reflected gains on certain hybrid financial instruments included in unsecured short- and long-term borrowings (principally due to a decrease in global equity prices), partially offset by losses on certain other liabilities and hybrid financial instruments included in deposits (in each case, principally due to an increase in the market value of the underlying assets).
Transfers into level 3 other financial liabilities during the nine months ended September 2020 primarily reflected transfers of certain other secured financings from level 2 (principally due to reduced price transparency of certain yield and duration inputs used to value these instruments) and certain hybrid financial instruments included in unsecured long- and short-term borrowings from level 2 (principally due to reduced price transparency of certain volatility and correlation inputs used to value these instruments).
The drivers of transfers out of level 3 other financial liabilities during the nine months ended September 2020 to level 2 were not material.
Gains and Losses on Other Financial Assets and Liabilities Accounted for at Fair Value Under the Fair Value Option
The table below presents the gains and losses recognized in earnings as a result of the election to apply the fair value option to certain financial assets and liabilities.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
   
Three Months
Ended September
          
Nine Months
Ended September
 
           
$ in millions
 
 
2021
 
     2020    
 
 
 
2021
 
     2020  
Unsecured short-term borrowings
 
 
$ 875
 
     $(406      
 
$  
 
(935
     $ 1,723  
Unsecured long-term borrowings
 
 
(128
     (143      
 
(1,830
     (1,166
Other
 
 
54
 
     (152  
 
 
 
(17
     (246
Total
 
 
$ 801
 
     $(701  
 
 
 
$(2,782
     $    311  
In the table above:
 
 
Gains/(losses) were primarily included in market making.
 
 
Gains/(losses) exclude contractual interest, which is included in interest income and interest expense, for all instruments other than hybrid financial instruments. See Note 23 for further information about interest income and interest expense.
 
Gains/(losses) included in unsecured short- and long-term borrowings were substantially all related to the embedded derivative component of hybrid financial instruments for both the three and nine months ended September 2021 and September 2020. These gains and losses would have been recognized under other U.S. GAAP even if the firm had not elected to account for the entire hybrid financial instrument at fair value.
 
 
Other primarily consists of gains/(losses) on customer and other receivables, deposits, other secured financings and other liabilities.
 
 
Other financial assets and liabilities at fair value are frequently economically hedged with trading assets and liabilities. Accordingly, gains or losses on such other financial assets and liabilities can be partially offset by gains or losses on trading assets and liabilities. As a result, gains or losses on other financial assets and liabilities do not necessarily represent the overall impact on the firm’s results of operations, liquidity or capital resources.
See Note 8 for information about gains/(losses) on equity securities and Note 9 for information about gains/(losses) on loans which are accounted for at fair value under the fair value option. Gains/(losses) on trading assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value under the fair value option are included in market making. See Note 5 for further information about gains/(losses) from market making.
Long-Term Debt Instruments
The difference between the aggregate contractual principal amount and the related fair value of long-term other secured financings, for which the fair value option was elected, was not material as of both September 2021 and December 2020.
The fair value of unsecured long-term borrowings, for which the fair value option was elected, exceeded the related aggregate contractual principal amount by $290 million as of September 2021 and $445 million as of December 2020. The amounts above include both principal-protected and
non-principal-protected
long-term borrowings.
Debt Valuation Adjustment
The firm calculates the fair value of financial liabilities for which the fair value option is elected by discounting future cash flows at a rate which incorporates the firm’s credit spreads.
The table below presents information about the net debt valuation adjustment (DVA) gains/(losses) on financial liabilities for which the fair value option was elected.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
    Three Months
Ended September
                 Nine Months
Ended September
 
           
$ in millions
 
 
2021
 
       2020    
 
 
 
 
 
2021
 
       2020  
DVA
(pre-tax)
 
 
$92
 
       $(357          
 
$222
 
       $576  
DVA (net of tax)
 
 
$67
 
       $(268  
 
 
 
 
 
$165
 
       $428  
In the table above:
 
 
DVA (net of tax) is included in debt valuation adjustment in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
 
 
The gains/(losses) reclassified to earnings from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) upon extinguishment of such financial liabilities were not material for both the three and nine months ended September 2021 and September 2020.
Loans and Lending Commitments
The table below presents the difference between the aggregate fair value and the aggregate contractual principal amount for loans (included in trading assets and loans in the consolidated balance sheets) for which the fair value option was elected.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
    As of  
     
$ in millions
 
 
 
September
2021
 
 
   
 
December
2020
 
 
Performing loans
               
Aggregate contractual principal in excess of fair value
 
 
$  1,430
 
    $     958  
 
Loans on nonaccrual status and/or more than 90 days past due
 
 
Aggregate contractual principal in excess of fair value
 
 
$10,279
 
    $10,526  
Aggregate fair value
 
 
$  3,315
 
    $  3,519  
In the table above, the aggregate contractual principal amount of loans on nonaccrual status and/or more than 90 days past due (which excludes loans carried at zero fair value and considered uncollectible) exceeds the related fair value primarily because the firm regularly purchases loans, such as distressed loans, at values significantly below the contractual principal amounts.
The fair value of unfunded lending commitments for which the fair value option was elected was a liability of $39 million as of September 2021 and $25 million as of December 2020, and the related total contractual amount of these lending commitments was $1.78 billion as of September 2021 and $1.64 billion as of December 2020. See Note 18 for further information about lending commitments.
Impact of Credit Spreads on Loans and Lending Commitments
The estimated net gain/(loss) attributable to changes in instrument-specific credit spreads on loans and lending commitments for which the fair value option was elected was $87 million for the three months ended September 2021, $73 million for the three months ended September 2020, $290 million for the nine months ended September 2021 and $(151) million for the nine months ended September 2020. The firm generally calculates the fair value of loans and lending commitments for which the fair value option is elected by discounting future cash flows at a rate which incorporates the instrument-specific credit spreads. For floating-rate loans and lending commitments, substantially all changes in fair value are attributable to changes in instrument-specific credit spreads, whereas for fixed-rate loans and lending commitments, changes in fair value are also attributable to changes in interest rates.