Investment securities and fair value disclosure (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Investment securities and fair value disclosure

Schedule of investment securities at cost and at fair value

	As of March 31, 2016
	Original cost		Gross unrealized gains		Gross unrealized losses			Provision for decline in value			Fair value
	(in millions of RMB)
Assets
Trading securities:
Listed equity securities		646		230		(105	)		—			771
Financial derivatives		7		171		—			—			178
Available-for-sale securities:
Listed equity securities and other treasury investments		12,701		5,940		(438	)		(957	)		17,246
Held-to-maturity securities		10,760		—		—			(7	)		10,753
Investment securities accounted for under the fair value option		4,256		366		—			—			4,622
		28,370		6,707		(543	)		(964	)		33,570

	As of March 31, 2017
	Original cost		Gross unrealized gains		Gross unrealized losses			Provision for decline in value			Fair value
	(in millions of RMB)
Assets
Available-for-sale securities:
Listed equity securities		15,325		9,792		(836	)		(1,019	)		23,262
Held-to-maturity securities		12,241		—		—			(180	)		12,061
Investment securities accounted for under the fair value option		183		—		—			—			183
		27,749		9,792		(836	)		(1,199	)		35,506

Table of assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and categorized using the fair value hierarchy

	As of March 31, 2016
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(in millions of RMB)
Assets
Short-term investments		4,700		—		—		4,700
Restricted cash and escrow receivables		1,346		—		—		1,346
Trading securities:
Listed equity securities		771		—		—		771
Financial derivatives		—		178		—		178
Available-for-sale securities:
Listed equity securities		17,246		—		—		17,246
Investment securities accounted for under the fair value option		—		—		4,622		4,622
		24,063		178		4,622		28,863
Liabilities
Forward exchange contracts		—		461		—		461
Contingent consideration in relation to investments and acquisitions		—		—		1,264		1,264
		—		461		1,264		1,725

	As of March 31, 2017
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(in millions of RMB)
Assets
Short-term investments		3,011		—		—		3,011
Restricted cash and escrow receivables		2,655		—		—		2,655
Available-for-sale securities:
Listed equity securities		23,262		—		—		23,262
Investment securities accounted for under the fair value option		—		—		183		183
Interest rate swap contracts		—		436		—		436
		28,928		436		183		29,547
Liabilities
Forward exchange contracts		—		78		—		78
Contingent consideration in relation to investments and acquisitions		—		—		921		921
		—		78		921		999

Schedule of rolling forward of convertible and exchangeable bonds accounted for under the fair value option

	Amounts
	(in millions of RMB)
Balance at April 1, 2015		3,719
Net increase in fair value		630
Foreign currency translation adjustments		273
Balance at March 31, 2016		4,622
Decrease in fair value		(113	)
Conversion or exchange (Notes 4(o) and 4(v))		(4,678	)
Foreign currency translation adjustments		169
Balance at March 31, 2017		—

Schedule of rolling forward of contingent consideration in relation to investments and acquisitions

	Amounts
	(in millions of RMB)
Balance at April 1, 2015		1,278
Net decrease in fair value		(14	)
Balance at March 31, 2016		1,264
Additions		293
Net decrease in fair value		(642	)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		6
Balance at March 31, 2017		921