Note 18—Financial instruments:

The following table summarizes the valuation of our short-term investments and financial instruments by the ASC Topic 820 categories as of December 31, 2014 and 2015:

	Fair Value Measurements
	Total			Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)			Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	(In millions)
Asset (liability)
December 31, 2014:
Marketable securities:
Current	$	2.7		$	1.7		$	1.0		$	—
Noncurrent		255.6			2.5			3.1			250.0
Currency forward contracts		(4.2	)		(4.2	)		—			—
December 31, 2015:
Marketable securities:
Current	$	2.0		$	—		$	2.0		$	—
Noncurrent		254.9			3.5			1.4			250.0
Currency forward contracts		(1.2	)		(1.2	)		—			—
Interest rate swap		(3.5	)		—			(3.5	)		—

See Note 4 for information on how we determine the fair value of our marketable securities.

Certain of our sales generated by Chemicals Segment’s non-U.S. operations are denominated in U.S. dollars. Our Chemicals Segment periodically uses currency forward contracts to manage a very nominal portion of currency exchange rate risk associated with trade receivables denominated in a currency other than the holder’s functional currency or similar exchange rate risk associated with future sales. Derivatives that we use are primarily currency forward contracts and interest rate swaps. We have not entered into these contracts for trading or speculative purposes in the past, nor do we currently anticipate entering into such contracts for trading or speculative purposes in the future. Derivatives used to hedge forecasted transactions and specific cash flows associated with financial assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar and which meet the criteria for hedge accounting are designated as cash flow hedges. Consequently, the effective portion of gains and losses is deferred as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and is recognized in earnings at the time the hedged item affects earnings. Contracts that do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting are marked-to-market at each balance sheet date with any resulting gain or loss recognized in income currently as part of net currency transactions. The fair value of the currency forward contracts is determined using Level 1 inputs based on the currency spot forward rates quoted by banks or currency dealers.

At December 31, 2015, Kronos had currency forward contracts to exchange an aggregate of $17.9 million for an equivalent value of Canadian dollars at an exchange rate of Cdn. $1.29 per U.S. dollar. These contracts with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. mature from January through July 2016 at a rate of $2.6 million per month.

The estimated fair value of such currency forward contracts at December 31, 2015 was a $1.2 million net liability, which is recognized as part of accounts payable and accrued liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheet with a corresponding $1.2 million currency transaction loss in our Consolidated Statement of Operations, (in 2014 we had a $4.2 million net liability of which $4.2 million is recognized as part of accounts payable and accrued liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheet with a corresponding $4.2 million currency transaction loss in our Consolidated Statement of Operations). We did not use hedge accounting for any of our contracts to the extent we held such contracts during 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Interest rate swap contract - As part of our interest rate risk management strategy, in August 2015 Kronos entered into a pay-fixed/receive-variable interest rate swap contract with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. to minimize its exposure to volatility in LIBOR as it relates to Kronos' forecasted outstanding variable-rate indebtedness. Under this interest rate swap, Kronos will pay a fixed rate of 2.016% per annum, payable quarterly, and receive a variable rate of three-month LIBOR (subject to a 1.00% floor), also payable quarterly, in each case based on the notional amount of the swap then outstanding. The effective date of the swap contract was September 30, 2015. The notional amount of the swap started at $344.75 million and declines by $875,000 each quarter beginning December 31, 2015, with a final maturity of the swap contract in February 2020. This swap contract has been designated as a cash flow hedge and qualified as an effective hedge at inception under ASC Topic 815. The effective portion of changes in fair value on this interest rate swap is recorded as a component of other comprehensive income (loss), net of deferred income taxes and noncontrolling interest. Commencing in the fourth quarter of 2015, as interest expense accrues on LIBOR-based variable rate debt, we classify the amount we pay under the pay-fixed leg of the swap and the amount we receive under the receive-variable leg of the swap as part of interest expense, with the net effect that the amount of interest expense we recognize on our LIBOR-based variable rate debt each quarter, as it relates to the notional amount of the swap outstanding each quarter, will be based on a fixed rate of 2.016% per annum in lieu of the level of LIBOR prevailing during the quarter. The amount of hedge ineffectiveness, if any, related to the swap will be recorded in earnings (also as part of interest expense). As of December 31, 2015, there were no gains or losses recognized in earnings in the current period representing hedge ineffectiveness with respect to the interest rate swap.

During the year ended December 31, 2015, the pretax amount recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) related to the interest rate swap contract was a $4.4 million loss. During the same period, $.9 million was reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into earnings. During the next twelve months the amount of the December 31, 2015 accumulated other comprehensive income balance that is expected to be reclassified to earnings is $3.5 million pre-tax.

The fair value of the interest rate swap contract at December 31, 2015 was a liability of $3.5 million and is reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as part of accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $3.3 million and other noncurrent liabilities of $.2 million. See Note 10. The fair value of the interest rate swap was estimated by a third party using inputs that are observable or that can be corroborated by observable market data such as interest rate yield curves, and therefore, is classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy.

The following table presents the financial instruments that are not carried at fair value but which require fair value disclosure as of December 31, 2014 and 2015:

	December 31, 2014				December 31, 2015
	Carrying amount		Fair value		Carrying amount		Fair value
	(In millions)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash equivalents	$	280.3	$	280.3	$	229.1	$	229.1
Deferred payment obligation		8.5		8.5		8.8		8.8
Long-term debt (excluding capitalized leases):
Kronos term loan	$	340.9	$	341.5	$	338.0	$	309.5
Snake River Sugar Company fixed rate loans		250.0		250.0		250.0		250.0
WCS fixed rate debt		67.1		67.1		65.6		65.6
Valhi credit facility with Contran		223.7		223.7		263.8		263.8
Tremont promissory note payable		17.4		17.4		17.1		17.1
BMI bank note payable		10.2		10.3		9.3		9.4
LandWell note payable to the City of Henderson		3.1		3.1		3.1		3.1

At December 31, 2015, the estimated market price of Kronos’ term loan was $900 per $1,000 principal amount. At December 31, 2014, the estimated market price of Kronos’ term loan was $983.1 per $1,000 principal amount. The fair value of Kronos’ term loan was based on quoted market prices; however, these quoted market prices represent Level 2 inputs because the markets in which the term loan trades were not active. The fair value of our fixed-rate nonrecourse loans from Snake River Sugar Company is based upon the $250 million redemption price of our investment in the Amalgamated Sugar Company LLC, which collateralizes the nonrecourse loans, (this is a Level 3 input). Fair values of variable interest rate notes receivable and debt and other fixed-rate debt are deemed to approximate book value. Due to their near-term maturities, the carrying amounts of accounts receivable and accounts payable are considered equivalent to fair value. See Notes 4 and 9.