Pension and other postretirement employee benefit plans (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2015

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Components of net periodic benefit costs reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income

The following table presents the components of net periodic benefit costs reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the Firm’s U.S. and non-U.S. defined benefit pension, defined contribution and OPEB plans.

	Pension plans
	U.S.						Non-U.S.						OPEB plans
Three months ended June 30, (in millions)	2015			2014			2015			2014			2015			2014
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Benefits earned during the period	$	85		$	70		$	10		$	8		$	—		$	—
Interest cost on benefit obligations	125			134			28			36			8			9
Expected return on plan assets	(233		)	(246		)	(37		)	(45		)	(27		)	(25		)
Amortization:
Net (gain)/loss	61			7			9			12			—			—
Prior service cost/(credit)	(8		)	(12		)	(1		)	—			—			—
Net periodic defined benefit cost	30			(47		)	9			11			(19		)	(16		)
Other defined benefit pension plans(a)	4			4			—			1			NA			NA
Total defined benefit plans	34			(43		)	9			12			(19		)	(16		)
Total defined contribution plans	115			110			86			87			NA			NA
Total pension and OPEB cost included in compensation expense	$	149		$	67		$	95		$	99		$	(19	)	$	(16	)
	Pension plans
	U.S.						Non-U.S.						OPEB plans
Six months ended June 30, (in millions)	2015			2014			2015			2014			2015			2014
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Benefits earned during the period	$	170		$	140		$	19		$	17		$	—		$	—
Interest cost on benefit obligations	250			268			56			70			16			18
Expected return on plan assets	(465		)	(492		)	(75		)	(89		)	(53		)	(50		)
Amortization:
Net (gain)/loss	123			13			18			24			—			—
Prior service cost/(credit)	(17		)	(22		)	(1		)	—			—			—
Net periodic defined benefit cost	61			(93		)	17			22			(37		)	(32		)
Other defined benefit pension plans(a)	7			7			5			3			NA			NA
Total defined benefit plans	68			(86		)	22			25			(37		)	(32		)
Total defined contribution plans	204			218			169			167			NA			NA
Total pension and OPEB cost included in compensation expense	$	272		$	132		$	191		$	192		$	(37	)	$	(32	)

(a) Includes various defined benefit pension plans which are individually immaterial.