Contingent liabilities, contractual commitments, and guarantees (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Other Provisions, Contingent Liabilities And Contingent Assets [Abstract]

Summary of contingent liabilities, contractual commitments and guarantees

	At
	30 Jun	31 Dec
	2018	2017
	$m	$m
Guarantees and contingent liabilities:
– financial guarantees and other similar contracts	91,104	89,762
– other contingent liabilities	796	616
At the end of the period	91,900	90,378
Commitments:
– documentary credits and short-term trade-related transactions	7,571	8,776
– forward asset purchases and forward deposits placed	12,235	4,295
– standby facilities, credit lines and other commitments to lend	691,353	672,518
At the end of the period	711,159	685,589

The table above discloses the nominal principal amounts, which represent the maximum amounts at risk should the contracts be fully drawn upon and clients default. As a significant portion of guarantees and commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total of the nominal principal amounts is not indicative of future liquidity requirements