RETIREMENT PLANS AND POST RETIREMENT PENSION PLANS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2016

Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of net pension and post-retirement benefit costs

For the years ended October 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, components of net periodic benefit cost and other amounts recognized in other comprehensive income were comprised of:

	Pensions																		U.S. Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
	U.S. Plans									Non-U.S. Plans
	2016			2015			2014			2016			2015			2014			2016			2015			2014
	(in millions)
Net periodic benefit cost (benefit)
Service cost — benefits earned during the period	$	12		$	25		$	46		$	19		$	18		$	36		$	1		$	2		$	3
Interest cost on benefit obligation	16			14			34			16			23			74			4			4			12
Expected return on plan assets	(25		)	(27		)	(64		)	(44		)	(42		)	(118		)	(7		)	(8		)	(22		)
Amortization of net actuarial loss	3			3			1			27			25			48			10			6			14
Amortization of prior service benefit	(3		)	(5		)	(12		)	—			—			(1		)	(10		)	(12		)	(35		)
Total periodic benefit cost (benefit)	$	3		$	10		$	5		$	18		$	24		$	39		$	(2	)	$	(8	)	$	(28	)
Summary of total periodic benefit cost (benefit):
Continuing operations	$	3		$	10		$	2		$	18		$	24		$	27		$	(2	)	$	(8	)	$	(14	)
Discontinued operations	—			—			3			—			—			12			—			—			(14		)
Total periodic benefit cost (benefit)	$	3		$	10		$	5		$	18		$	24		$	39		$	(2	)	$	(8	)	$	(28	)
Curtailments and settlements	$	(16	)	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive (income) loss
Net actuarial (gain) loss	$	22		$	44		$	86		$	149		$	32		$	173		$	3		$	16		$	12
Amortization of net actuarial loss	(3		)	(3		)	(1		)	(27		)	(25		)	(48		)	(10		)	(6		)	(14		)
Prior service cost (benefit)	15			—			—			—			—			(2		)	(7		)	—			—
Amortization of prior service benefit	3			5			12			—			—			1			10			12			35
Foreign currency	—			—			—			(3		)	10			(28		)	—			—			—
Total recognized in other comprehensive (income) loss	$	37		$	46		$	97		$	119		$	17		$	96		$	(4	)	$	22		$	33
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost (benefit) and other comprehensive (income) loss	$	24		$	56		$	102		$	137		$	41		$	135		$	(6	)	$	14		$	5

Change in fair value of plan assets

Funded status.    As of October 31, 2016 and 2015, the funded status of the defined benefit and post-retirement benefit plans was:

	U.S. Defined Benefit Plans						Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans						U.S. Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
	2016			2015			2016			2015			2016			2015
	(in millions)
Change in fair value of plan assets:
Fair value — beginning of year	$	347		$	837		$	778		$	2,108		$	91		$	284
Actual return on plan assets	13			6			25			53			3			2
Employer contributions	—			15			24			25			—			—
Participants' contributions	—			—			1			1			—			—
Benefits paid	(19		)	(21		)	(27		)	(20		)	(6		)	(8		)
Transfer due to Keysight separation	—			(490		)	—			(1,327		)	—			(187		)
Currency impact	—			—			(27		)	(62		)	—			—
Fair value — end of year	$	341		$	347		$	774		$	778		$	88		$	91

Change in benefit obligation

	U.S. Defined Benefit Plans						Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans						U.S. Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
	2016			2015			2016			2015			2016			2015
	(in millions)
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation — beginning of year	$	415		$	889		$	900		$	2,344		$	112		$	309
Service cost	12			25			19			18			1			2
Interest cost	16			14			16			23			4			4
Participants' contributions	—			—			1			1			—			—
Plan amendment	—			—			—			—			(7		)	—
Actuarial (gain) loss	41			23			130			40			(1		)	11
Benefits paid	(20		)	(22		)	(27		)	(20		)	(6		)	(8		)
Curtailments	(30		)	—			—			—			—			—
Transfer due to Keysight separation	—			(514		)	—			(1,429		)	—			(206		)
Currency impact	—			—			(37		)	(77		)	—			—
Benefit obligation — end of year	$	434		$	415		$	1,002		$	900		$	103		$	112
Overfunded (underfunded) status of PBO	$	(93	)	$	(68	)	$	(228	)	$	(122	)	$	(15	)	$	(21	)

Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet

	U.S. Defined Benefit Plans						Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans						U.S. Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
	2016			2015			2016			2015			2016			2015
	(in millions)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet consist of:
Other assets	$	—		$	—		$	1		$	26		$	—		$	—
Employee compensation and benefits	(1		)	(2		)	—			—			—			—
Retirement and post-retirement benefits	(92		)	(66		)	(229		)	(148		)	(15		)	(21		)
Total net asset (liability)	$	(93	)	$	(68	)	$	(228	)	$	(122	)	$	(15	)	$	(21	)

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

	U.S. Defined Benefit Plans					Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans				U.S. Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
	2016		2015			2016		2015		2016			2015
Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (loss):
Actuarial (gains) losses	$	93	$	73		$	375	$	256	$	41		$	49
Prior service costs (benefits)	—		(18		)	—		—		(37		)	(40		)
Total	$	93	$	55		$	375	$	256	$	4		$	9

Fair value of plan assets and Benefit obligation transferred to Keysight

In connection with the separation of Keysight Technologies on November 1, 2014, Agilent transferred certain liabilities and assets of the U.S. and Non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans, and U.S. Post-Retirement Benefit Plans to similar plans created for Keysight Technologies employees. Total transfers are as follows:

	U.S. Defined Benefit Plans		Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans		U.S. Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
	(in millions)
Fair value of plan assets transferred to Keysight	$	490	$	1,327	$	187
Benefit obligation transferred to Keysight	$	514	$	1,429	$	206

Amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized as components of net expense during the next fiscal year

The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized by Agilent as components of net expense during 2017 are as follows:

	U.S. Defined Benefit Plans		Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans		U.S. Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
	(in millions)
Amortization of net prior service cost (benefit)	$	—	$	—	$	(9	)
Amortization of actuarial net loss (gain)	$	3	$	35	$	11

Defined benefit plan assets by fair value hierarchy

The following tables present the fair value of U.S. Defined Benefit Plans assets classified under the appropriate level of the fair value hierarchy as of October 31, 2016 and 2015.

			Fair Value Measurement at October 31, 2016 Using
	October 31, 2016		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	(in millions)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	4	$	1	$	3	$	—
Equity	248		62		186		—
Fixed Income	80		24		56		—
Other Investments	9		—		—		9
Total assets measured at fair value	$	341	$	87	$	245	$	9

			Fair Value Measurement at October 31, 2015 Using
	October 31, 2015		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	(in millions)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	3	$	1	$	2	$	—
Equity	258		61		197		—
Fixed Income	76		22		54		—
Other Investments	10		—		1		9
Total assets measured at fair value	$	347	$	84	$	254	$	9

The following tables present the fair value of U.S. Post-Retirement Benefit Plans assets classified under the appropriate level of the fair value hierarchy as of October 31, 2016 and 2015.

.

			Fair Value Measurement at October 31, 2016 Using
	October 31, 2016		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	(in millions)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	3	$	2	$	1	$	—
Equity	59		15		44		—
Fixed Income	21		6		15		—
Other Investments	5		—		—		5
Total assets measured at fair value	$	88	$	23	$	60	$	5

			Fair Value Measurement at October 31, 2015 Using
	October 31, 2015		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	(in millions)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	3	$	2	$	1	$	—
Equity	62		15		47		—
Fixed Income	20		6		14		—
Other Investments	6		—		—		6
Total assets measured at fair value	$	91	$	23	$	62	$	6

The following tables present the fair value of non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans assets classified under the appropriate level of the fair value hierarchy as of October 31, 2016 and 2015:

			Fair Value Measurement at October 31, 2016 Using
	October 31, 2016		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	(in millions)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	26	$	18	$	8	$	—
Equity	422		156		266		—
Fixed Income	325		9		316		—
Other Investments	1		—		1		—
Total assets measured at fair value	$	774	$	183	$	591	$	—

			Fair Value Measurement at October 31, 2015 Using
	October 31, 2015		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	(in millions)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	3	$	1	$	2	$	—
Equity	396		172		224		—
Fixed Income	379		13		366		—
Other Investments	—		—		—		—
Total assets measured at fair value	$	778	$	186	$	592	$	—

Defined benefit plans assets measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (level 3)

For U.S. Defined Benefit Plans assets measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (level 3), the following table summarizes the change in balances during 2016 and 2015 for continuing operations:

	Years Ended October 31.
	2016			2015
Balance, beginning of year	$	9		$	14
Realized gains/(losses)	—			(1		)
Unrealized gains/(losses)	3			(2		)
Purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements	(3		)	(2		)
Transfers in (out)	—			—
Balance, end of year	$	9		$	9

For U.S. Post-Retirement Benefit Plans assets measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (level 3), the following table summarizes the change in balances during 2016 and 2015 for continuing operations:

	Years Ended October 31,
	2016			2015
Balance, beginning of year	$	6		$	8
Realized gains/(losses)	—			(1		)
Unrealized gains/(losses)	1			—
Purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements	(2		)	(1		)
Transfers in (out)	—			—
	$	5		$	6

For non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans, assets measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (level 3), the following table summarizes the changes in balances during 2016 and 2015 for continuing operations:

	Year Ended
	October 31, 2015
Balance, beginning of year	$	4
Realized gains/(losses)	1
Unrealized gains/(losses)	—
Purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements	(5		)
Transfers in (out)	—
Balance, end of year	$	—

Combined projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligations and fair value of plan assets

The table below presents the combined projected benefit obligation ("PBO"), accumulated benefit obligation ("ABO") and fair value of plan assets, grouping plans using comparisons of the PBO and ABO relative to the plan assets for continuing operations as of October 31, 2016 or 2015.

	2016				2015
	Benefit Obligation				Benefit Obligation
			Fair Value of Plan Assets				Fair Value of Plan Assets
	PBO				PBO
	(in millions)
U.S. defined benefit plans where PBO exceeds the fair value of plan assets	$	434	$	341	$	415	$	347
U.S. defined benefit plans where fair value of plan assets exceeds PBO	—		—		—		—
Total	$	434	$	341	$	415	$	347
Non-U.S. defined benefit plans where PBO exceeds or is equal to the fair value of plan assets	$	970	$	741	$	771	$	623
Non-U.S. defined benefit plans where fair value of plan assets exceeds PBO	32		33		129		155
Total	$	1,002	$	774	$	900	$	778
	ABO				ABO
U.S. defined benefit plans where ABO exceeds the fair value of plan assets	$	434	$	341	$	389	$	347
U.S. defined benefit plans where the fair value of plan assets exceeds ABO	—		—		—		—
Total	$	434	$	341	$	389	$	347
Non-U.S. defined benefit plans where ABO exceeds or is equal to the fair value of plan assets	$	737	$	542	$	732	$	623
Non-U.S. defined benefit plans where fair value of plan assets exceeds ABO	226		232		127		155
Total	$	963	$	774	$	859	$	778

Schedule of expected benefit payments

The following table presents expected future benefit payments for the next 10 years:

	U.S. Defined Benefit Plans		Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans		U.S. Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
	(in millions)
2017	$	27	$	48	$	8
2018	$	25	$	22	$	8
2019	$	26	$	24	$	8
2020	$	28	$	25	$	7
2021	$	27	$	27	$	7
2022 - 2026	$	137	$	168	$	35

Assumptions used to calculate the net periodic cost and benefit obligation

Assumptions used to calculate the net periodic cost in each year were as follows:

	For years ended October 31,
	2016	2015	2014
U.S. defined benefit plans:
Discount rate	4.20%	4.00%	4.00-4.50%
Average increase in compensation levels	3.50%	3.50%	3.50%
Expected long-term return on assets	7.50%	8.00%	8.00%
Non-U.S. defined benefit plans:
Discount rate	0.77-3.76%	1.50-4.00%	1.50-4.50%
Average increase in compensation levels	2.25-4.00%	2.50-3.25%	2.50-3.25%
Expected long-term return on assets	4.25-6.50%	4.00-6.50%	4.00-6.50%
U.S. post-retirement benefits plans:
Discount rate	4.00%	4.00%	4.00-4.25%
Expected long-term return on assets	7.50%	8.00%	8.00%
Current medical cost trend rate	7.00%	8.00%	8.00%
Ultimate medical cost trend rate	3.50%	3.50%	3.50%
Medical cost trend rate decreases to ultimate rate in year	2029	2028	2028

Assumptions used to calculate the benefit obligation were as follows:

	As of the Years Ending October 31,
	2016	2015
U.S. defined benefit plans:
Discount rate	3.75%	4.20%
Average increase in compensation levels	N/A	3.50%
Non-U.S. defined benefit plans:
Discount rate	0.40-2.62%	0.77-3.76%
Average increase in compensation levels	2.00-4.25%	2.25-4.00%
U.S. post-retirement benefits plans:
Discount rate	3.50%	4.00%
Current medical cost trend rate	6.00%	7.00%
Ultimate medical cost trend rate	3.50%	3.50%
Medical cost trend rate decreases to ultimate rate in year	2029	2029