Derivative Instruments Derivatives executed in contemplation of a sale of the underlying financial asset (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets, Transfers of Financial Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

In certain instances the Firm enters into transactions where it transfers financial assets but maintains the economic exposure to the transferred assets by entering into a derivative with the same counterparty in contemplation of the initial transfer. The Firm generally accounts for such transfers as collateralized financing transactions as described in Note 12, but in limited circumstances they may qualify to be accounted for as a sale and a derivative under U.S. GAAP.