Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 1,268	$ (13)	$ 1,466
Less: income from discontinued operations	0	178	592
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	1,268	(191)	874
Adjustments to reconcile income (loss) from continuing operations to cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations:
Depreciation	90	86	86
Amortization of intangibles	67	48	51
Provision for losses on accounts receivable	8	11	22
Deferred income taxes	280	(245)	43
Stock-based compensation	78	100	96
Accrued legal and regulatory settlements	119	1,587	0
Other	46	80	96
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions and dispositions:
Accounts receivable	(118)	(9)	(35)
Prepaid and other current assets	(4)	(7)	(29)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(92)	(130)	(94)
Unearned revenue	129	78	109
Accrued legal and regulatory settlement	(1,624)	(35)	0
Other current liabilities	(78)	(16)	(89)
Net change in prepaid / accrued income taxes	61	(93)	(238)
Net change in other assets and liabilities	(35)	(55)	(110)
Cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations	195	1,209	782
Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(139)	(92)	(117)
Acquisitions, including contingent payments, net of cash acquired	(2,396)	(71)	(47)
Proceeds from dispositions	14	83	51
Changes in short-term investments	(4)	15	(17)
Cash used for investing activities from continuing operations	(2,525)	(65)	(130)
Financing Activities:
Additions to / (payments on) short-term debt, net	143	0	(457)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net	2,674	0	0
Dividends paid to shareholders	(363)	(326)	(308)
Dividends and other payments paid to noncontrolling interests	(104)	(84)	(75)
Repurchase of treasury shares	(974)	(362)	(978)
Exercise of stock options	86	193	258
Contingent consideration payment	(5)	(11)	(12)
Purchase of additional CRISIL shares	(16)	0	(214)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payments	69	128	43
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities from continuing operations	1,510	(462)	(1,743)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash from continuing operations	(67)	(65)	(1)
Cash (used for) provided by continuing operations	(887)	617	(1,092)
Discontinued Operations:
Cash (used for) provided by operating activities	(129)	18	(231)
Cash provided by investing activities	0	320	2,129
Cash used for financing activities	0	0	(25)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	0	0	1
Cash (used for) provided by discontinued operations	(129)	338	1,874
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(1,016)	955	782
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	2,497	1,542	760
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	1,481	2,497	1,542
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest (including discontinued operations)	65	50	50
Income taxes (including discontinued operations)	$ 260	$ 419	$ 787