v2.3.0.11
Collateralized Transactions
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Collateralized Transactions  
Collateralized Transactions
5. Collateralized Transactions.

The Company enters into reverse repurchase agreements, repurchase agreements, securities borrowed and securities loaned transactions to, among other things, acquire securities to cover short positions and settle other securities obligations, to accommodate customers' needs and to finance the Company's inventory positions. The Company's policy is generally to take possession of Securities received as collateral, Securities purchased under agreements to resell and Securities borrowed. The Company manages credit exposure arising from reverse repurchase agreements, repurchase agreements, securities borrowed and securities loaned transactions by, in appropriate circumstances, entering into master netting agreements and collateral arrangements with counterparties that provide the Company, in the event of a customer default, the right to liquidate collateral and the right to offset a counterparty's rights and obligations. The Company also monitors the fair value of the underlying securities as compared with the related receivable or payable, including accrued interest, and, as necessary, requests additional collateral to ensure such transactions are adequately collateralized. Where deemed appropriate, the Company's agreements with third parties specify its rights to request additional collateral.

The Company also engages in securities financing transactions for customers through margin lending. Under these agreements and transactions, the Company either receives or provides collateral, including U.S. government and agency securities, other sovereign government obligations, corporate and other debt, and corporate equities. Customer receivables generated from margin lending activity are collateralized by customer-owned securities held by the Company. The Company monitors required margin levels and established credit limits daily and, pursuant to such guidelines, requires customers to deposit additional collateral, or reduce positions, when necessary. Margin loans are extended on a demand basis and are not committed facilities. Factors considered in the review of margin loans are the amount of the loan, the intended purpose, the degree of leverage being employed in the account, and overall evaluation of the portfolio to ensure proper diversification or, in the case of concentrated positions, appropriate liquidity of the underlying collateral or potential hedging strategies to reduce risk. Additionally, transactions relating to concentrated or restricted positions require a review of any legal impediments to liquidation of the underlying collateral. Underlying collateral for margin loans is reviewed with respect to the liquidity of the proposed collateral positions, valuation of securities, historic trading range, volatility analysis and an evaluation of industry concentrations. For these transactions, adherence to the Company's collateral policies significantly limits the Company's credit exposure in the event of customer default. The Company may request additional margin collateral from customers, if appropriate, and, if necessary, may sell securities that have not been paid for or purchase securities sold but not delivered from customers. At June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, there were approximately $20.7 billion and $18.0 billion, respectively, of customer margin loans outstanding.

Other secured financings include the liabilities related to transfers of financial assets that are accounted for as financings rather than sales, consolidated VIEs where the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary, and certain equity-linked notes and other secured borrowings. These liabilities are generally payable from the cash flows of the related assets accounted for as Financial instruments owned (see Note 6).

The Company pledges its financial instruments owned to collateralize repurchase agreements and other securities financings. Pledged financial instruments that can be sold or repledged by the secured party are identified as Financial instruments owned (pledged to various parties) in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. The carrying value and classification of financial instruments owned by the Company that have been loaned or pledged to counterparties where those counterparties do not have the right to sell or repledge the collateral were as follows:

 

     At
June 30,
2011
     At
December 31,
2010
 
     (dollars in millions)  

Financial instruments owned:

     

U.S. government and agency securities

   $ 7,222       $ 11,513   

Other sovereign government obligations

     6,547         8,741   

Corporate and other debt

     14,257         12,333   

Corporate equities

     23,546         21,919   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 51,572       $ 54,506   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company receives collateral in the form of securities in connection with reverse repurchase agreements, securities borrowed and derivative transactions, and customer margin loans. In many cases, the Company is permitted to sell or repledge these securities held as collateral and use the securities to secure repurchase agreements, to enter into securities lending and derivative transactions or for delivery to counterparties to cover short positions. The Company additionally receives securities as collateral in connection with certain securities-for-securities transactions in which the Company is the lender. In instances where the Company is permitted to sell or repledge these securities, the Company reports the fair value of the collateral received and the related obligation to return the collateral in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. At June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the fair value of financial instruments received as collateral where the Company is permitted to sell or repledge the securities was $585 billion and $537 billion, respectively, and the fair value of the portion that had been sold or repledged was $416 billion and $390 billion, respectively.

 

At June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, cash and securities deposited with clearing organizations or segregated under federal and other regulations or requirements were as follows: