Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2018

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]

Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following is a summary of net changes in accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") by component and net of tax for the three months ended November 30, 2018 and 2017 (in millions):

	Pension/ post-retirement obligations			Unrecognized gain (loss) on available-for-sale investments		Unrealized gain (loss) on hedges			Share of AOCI of equity method investments		Cumulative translation adjustments			Total
Balance at August 31, 2018	$	101		$	—	$	(30	)	$	3	$	(3,076	)	$	(3,002	)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	—			—		3			1		(228		)	(224		)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(4		)	—		1			—		—			(3		)
Tax benefit (provision)	—			—		(1		)	—		(1		)	(2		)
Net change in other comprehensive income (loss)	(4		)	—		3			1		(229		)	(229		)
Balance at November 30, 2018	$	97		$	—	$	(27	)	$	4	$	(3,305	)	$	(3,231	)

	Pension/ post-retirement obligations			Unrecognized gain (loss) on available-for-sale investments		Unrealized gain (loss) on hedges			Share of AOCI of equity method investments			Cumulative translation adjustments			Total
Balance at August 31, 2017	$	(139	)	$	—	$	(33	)	$	(2	)	$	(2,877	)	$	(3,051	)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	(1		)	—		—			3			506			508
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	—			—		1			—			—			1
Tax benefit (provision)	1			—		(1		)	(1		)	—			(1		)
Net change in other comprehensive income (loss)	—			—		—			2			506			508
Balance at November 30, 2017	$	(139	)	$	—	$	(33	)	$	—		$	(2,371	)	$	(2,543	)