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DERIVATIVES ACTIVITIES
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
DERIVATIVES ACTIVITIES  
DERIVATIVES ACTIVITIES

18.    DERIVATIVES ACTIVITIES

        In the ordinary course of business, Citigroup enters into various types of derivative transactions. These derivative transactions include:

  • Futures and forward contracts, which are commitments to buy or sell at a future date a financial instrument, commodity or currency at a contracted price and may be settled in cash or through delivery.

    Swap contracts, which are commitments to settle in cash at a future date or dates that may range from a few days to a number of years, based on differentials between specified financial indices, as applied to a notional principal amount.

    Option contracts, which give the purchaser, for a premium, the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell within a specified time a financial instrument, commodity or currency at a contracted price that may also be settled in cash, based on differentials between specified indices or prices.

        Citigroup enters into these derivative contracts relating to interest rate, foreign currency, commodity, and other market/credit risks for the following reasons:

  • Trading Purposes—Customer Needs:  Citigroup offers its customers derivatives in connection with their risk-management actions to transfer, modify or reduce their interest rate, foreign exchange and other market/credit risks or for their own trading purposes. As part of this process, Citigroup considers the customers' suitability for the risk involved and the business purpose for the transaction. Citigroup also manages its derivative risk positions through offsetting trade activities, controls focused on price verification, and daily reporting of positions to senior managers.

    Trading Purposes—Citigroup trades derivatives as an active market maker. Trading limits and price verification controls are key aspects of this activity.

    Hedging—Citigroup uses derivatives in connection with its risk-management activities to hedge certain risks or reposition the risk profile of the Company. For example, Citigroup issues fixed-rate long-term debt and then enters into a receive-fixed, pay-variable-rate interest rate swap with the same tenor and notional amount to convert the interest payments to a net variable-rate basis. This strategy is the most common form of an interest rate hedge, as it minimizes interest cost in certain yield curve environments. Derivatives are also used to manage risks inherent in specific groups of on-balance-sheet assets and liabilities, including AFS securities and deposit liabilities, as well as other interest-sensitive assets and liabilities. In addition, foreign-exchange contracts are used to hedge non-U.S.-dollar-denominated debt, foreign-currency-denominated AFS securities and net investment exposures.

        Derivatives may expose Citigroup to market, credit or liquidity risks in excess of the amounts recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Market risk on a derivative product is the exposure created by potential fluctuations in interest rates, foreign-exchange rates and other factors and is a function of the type of product, the volume of transactions, the tenor and terms of the agreement, and the underlying volatility. Credit risk is the exposure to loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the transaction where the value of any collateral held is not adequate to cover such losses. The recognition in earnings of unrealized gains on these transactions is subject to management's assessment as to collectability. Liquidity risk is the potential exposure that arises when the size of the derivative position may not be able to be rapidly adjusted in periods of high volatility and financial stress at a reasonable cost.

        Information pertaining to the volume of derivative activity is provided in the tables below. The notional amounts, for both long and short derivative positions, of Citigroup's derivative instruments as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are presented in the table below.

Derivative Notionals

 
  Hedging instruments under
ASC 815 (SFAS 133)(1)(2)
  Other derivative instruments  
 
   
   
  Trading derivatives   Management hedges(3)  
In millions of dollars   March 31,
2012
  December 31,
2011
  March 31,
2012
  December 31,
2011
  March 31,
2012
  December 31,
2011
 

Interest rate contracts

                                     

Swaps

  $ 167,384   $ 163,079   $ 26,829,825   $ 28,069,960   $ 127,776   $ 119,344  

Futures and forwards

    725         4,300,031     3,549,642     53,882     43,965  

Written options

            3,981,660     3,871,700     14,961     16,786  

Purchased options

            3,961,735     3,888,415     4,540     7,338  
                           

Total interest rate contract notionals

  $ 168,109   $ 163,079   $ 39,073,251   $ 39,379,717   $ 201,159   $ 187,433  
                           

Foreign exchange contracts

                                     

Swaps

  $ 24,841   $ 27,575   $ 1,215,471   $ 1,182,363   $ 20,210   $ 22,458  

Futures and forwards

    72,851     55,211     3,171,315     3,191,687     38,779     31,095  

Written options

    2,654     4,292     737,132     591,818     89     190  

Purchased options

    41,407     39,163     719,375     583,891     280     53  
                           

Total foreign exchange contract notionals

  $ 141,753   $ 126,241   $ 5,843,293   $ 5,549,759   $ 59,358   $ 53,796  
                           

Equity contracts

                                     

Swaps

  $   $   $ 101,566   $ 86,978   $   $  

Futures and forwards

            17,150     12,882          

Written options

            673,136     552,333          

Purchased options

            629,234     509,322          
                           

Total equity contract notionals

  $   $   $ 1,421,086   $ 1,161,515   $   $  
                           

Commodity and other contracts

                                     

Swaps

  $   $   $ 25,468   $ 23,403   $   $  

Futures and forwards

            79,707     73,090          

Written options

            102,214     90,650          

Purchased options

            113,880     99,234          
                           

Total commodity and other contract notionals

  $   $   $ 321,269   $ 286,377   $   $  
                           

Credit derivatives(4)

                                     

Protection sold

  $   $   $ 1,431,175   $ 1,394,528   $   $  

Protection purchased

    3,180     4,253     1,514,463     1,486,723     23,668     21,914  
                           

Total credit derivatives

  $ 3,180   $ 4,253   $ 2,945,638   $ 2,881,251   $ 23,668   $ 21,914  
                           

Total derivative notionals

  $ 313,042   $ 293,573   $ 49,604,537   $ 49,258,619   $ 284,185   $ 263,143  
                           

(1)
The notional amounts presented in this table do not include hedge accounting relationships under ASC 815 (SFAS 133) where Citigroup is hedging the foreign currency risk of a net investment in a foreign operation by issuing a foreign-currency-denominated debt instrument. The notional amount of such debt is $5,812 million and $7,060 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

(2)
Derivatives in hedge accounting relationships accounted for under ASC 815 (SFAS 133) are recorded in either Other assets/Other liabilities or Trading account assets/Trading account liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

(3)
Management hedges represent derivative instruments used in certain economic hedging relationships that are identified for management purposes, but for which hedge accounting is not applied. These derivatives are recorded in either Other assets/Other liabilities or Trading account assets/Trading account liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

(4)
Credit derivatives are arrangements designed to allow one party (protection buyer) to transfer the credit risk of a "reference asset" to another party (protection seller). These arrangements allow a protection seller to assume the credit risk associated with the reference asset without directly purchasing that asset. The Company has entered into credit derivative positions for purposes such as risk management, yield enhancement, reduction of credit concentrations and diversification of overall risk.

Derivative Mark-to-Market (MTM) Receivables/Payables

 
  Derivatives classified in trading
account assets/liabilities(1)(2)
  Derivatives classified in other
assets/liabilities(2)
 
In millions of dollars at March 31, 2012   Assets   Liabilities   Assets   Liabilities  

Derivative instruments designated as ASC 815 (SFAS 133) hedges

                         

Interest rate contracts

  $ 6,665   $ 1,895   $ 3,561   $ 1,233  

Foreign exchange contracts

    1,373     1,413     942     535  
                   

Total derivative instruments designated as ASC 815 (SFAS 133) hedges

  $ 8,038   $ 3,308   $ 4,503   $ 1,768  
                   

Other derivative instruments

                         

Interest rate contracts

  $ 680,272   $ 667,456   $ 345   $ 20  

Foreign exchange contracts

    72,582     77,431     486     495  

Equity contracts

    20,664     35,647          

Commodity and other contracts

    15,578     17,029          

Credit derivatives(3)

    66,978     63,487     230     280  
                   

Total other derivative instruments

  $ 856,074   $ 861,050   $ 1,061   $ 795  
                   

Total derivatives

  $ 864,112   $ 864,358   $ 5,564   $ 2,563  

Cash collateral paid/received(4)(5)

    8,556     6,183     144     576  

Less: Netting agreements and market value adjustments(6)

    (777,136 )   (772,629 )        

Less: Netting cash collateral received/paid(7)

    (38,789 )   (44,158 )   (3,673 )    
                   

Net receivables/payables

  $ 56,743   $ 53,754   $ 2,035   $ 3,139  
                   

(1)
The trading derivatives fair values are presented in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)
Derivative mark-to-market receivables/payables related to management hedges are recorded in either Other assets/Other liabilities or Trading account assets/Trading account liabilities.

(3)
The credit derivatives trading assets are composed of $50,369 million related to protection purchased and $16,609 million related to protection sold as of March 31, 2012. The credit derivatives trading liabilities are composed of $17,496 million related to protection purchased and $45,991 million related to protection sold as of March 31, 2012.

(4)
For the trading asset/liabilities, this is the net amount of the $52,714 million and $44,972 million of gross cash collateral paid and received, respectively. Of the gross cash collateral paid, $44,158 million was used to offset derivative liabilities, and of the gross cash collateral received, $38,789 million was used to offset derivative assets.

(5)
For the other asset/liabilities, this is the net amount of the $144 million and $4,249 million of the gross cash collateral paid and received, respectively. Of the gross cash collateral received, $3,673 million was used to offset derivative assets.

(6)
Represents the netting of derivative receivable and payable balances for the same counterparty under enforceable netting agreements.

(7)
Represents the netting of cash collateral paid and received by counterparty under enforceable credit support agreements.

 
  Derivatives classified in trading
account assets/liabilities(1)(2)
  Derivatives classified in other
assets/liabilities(2)
 
In millions of dollars at December 31, 2011   Assets   Liabilities   Assets   Liabilities  

Derivative instruments designated as ASC 815 (SFAS 133) hedges

                         

Interest rate contracts

  $ 8,274   $ 3,306   $ 3,968   $ 1,518  

Foreign exchange contracts

    3,706     1,451     1,201     863  
                   

Total derivative instruments designated as ASC 815 (SFAS 133) hedges

  $ 11,980   $ 4,757   $ 5,169   $ 2,381  
                   

Other derivative instruments

                         

Interest rate contracts

  $ 749,213   $ 736,785   $ 212   $ 96  

Foreign exchange contracts

    90,611     95,912     325     959  

Equity contracts

    20,235     33,139          

Commodity and other contracts

    13,763     14,631          

Credit derivatives(3)

    90,424     84,726     430     126  
                   

Total other derivative instruments

  $ 964,246   $ 965,193   $ 967   $ 1,181  
                   

Total derivatives

  $ 976,226   $ 969,950   $ 6,136   $ 3,562  

Cash collateral paid/received(4)(5)

    6,634     7,870     307     180  

Less: Netting agreements and market value adjustments(6)

    (875,592 )   (870,366 )        

Less: Netting cash collateral received/paid(7)

    (44,941 )   (51,181 )   (3,462 )    
                   

Net receivables/payables

  $ 62,327   $ 56,273   $ 2,981   $ 3,742  
                   

(1)
The trading derivatives fair values are presented in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)
Derivative mark-to-market receivables/payables related to management hedges are recorded in either Other assets/Other liabilities or Trading account assets/Trading account liabilities.

(3)
The credit derivatives trading assets are composed of $79,089 million related to protection purchased and $11,335 million related to protection sold as of December 31, 2011. The credit derivatives trading liabilities are composed of $12,235 million related to protection purchased and $72,491 million related to protection sold as of December 31, 2011.

(4)
For the trading asset/liabilities, this is the net amount of the $57,815 million and $52,811 million of gross cash collateral paid and received, respectively. Of the gross cash collateral paid, $51,181 million was used to offset derivative liabilities, and of the gross cash collateral received, $44,941 million was used to offset derivative assets.

(5)
For the other asset/liabilities, this is the net amount of the $307 million and $3,642 million of the gross cash collateral paid and received, respectively. Of the gross cash collateral received, $3,462 million was used to offset derivative assets.

(6)
Represents the netting of derivative receivable and payable balances for the same counterparty under enforceable netting agreements.

(7)
Represents the netting of cash collateral paid and received by counterparty under enforceable credit support agreements.

        All derivatives are reported on the balance sheet at fair value. In addition, where applicable, all such contracts covered by master netting agreements are reported net. Gross positive fair values are netted with gross negative fair values by counterparty pursuant to a valid master netting agreement. In addition, payables and receivables in respect of cash collateral received from or paid to a given counterparty are included in this netting. However, non-cash collateral is not included.

        The amounts recognized in Principal transactions in the Consolidated Statement of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 related to derivatives not designated in a qualifying hedging relationship as well as the underlying non-derivative instruments are included in the table below. Citigroup presents this disclosure by business classification, showing derivative gains and losses related to its trading activities together with gains and losses related to non-derivative instruments within the same trading portfolios, as this represents the way these portfolios are risk managed.

 
  Principal transactions
gains (losses)
three months ended March 31,
 
In millions of dollars   2012   2011  

Interest rate contracts

  $ 791   $ 1,624  

Foreign exchange

    754     787  

Equity contracts

    342     428  

Commodity and other

    (21 )   (25 )

Credit derivatives

    65     353  
           

Total Citigroup(1)

  $ 1,931   $ 3,167  
           

(1)
Also see Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

        The amounts recognized in Other revenue in the Consolidated Statement of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are shown below. The table below does not include the offsetting gains/losses on the hedged items, which amounts are also recorded in Other revenue.

 
  Gains (losses) included in
Other revenue
three months ended
March 31,
 
In millions of dollars   2012   2011  

Interest rate contracts

  $ (435 ) $ (235 )

Foreign exchange

    544     1,721  

Credit derivatives

    (429 )   (185 )
           

Total Citigroup(1)

  $ (320 ) $ 1,301  
           

(1)
Non-designated derivatives are derivative instruments not designated in qualifying hedging relationships.

Accounting for Derivative Hedging

        Citigroup accounts for its hedging activities in accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (formerly SFAS 133). As a general rule, hedge accounting is permitted where the Company is exposed to a particular risk, such as interest-rate or foreign-exchange risk, that causes changes in the fair value of an asset or liability or variability in the expected future cash flows of an existing asset, liability or a forecasted transaction that may affect earnings.

        Derivative contracts hedging the risks associated with the changes in fair value are referred to as fair value hedges, while contracts hedging the risks affecting the expected future cash flows are called cash flow hedges. Hedges that utilize derivatives or debt instruments to manage the foreign exchange risk associated with equity investments in non-U.S.-dollar-functional-currency foreign subsidiaries (net investment in a foreign operation) are called net investment hedges.

        If certain hedging criteria specified in ASC 815 are met, including testing for hedge effectiveness, special hedge accounting may be applied. The hedge effectiveness assessment methodologies for similar hedges are performed in a similar manner and are used consistently throughout the hedging relationships. For fair value hedges, the changes in value of the hedging derivative, as well as the changes in value of the related hedged item due to the risk being hedged, are reflected in current earnings. For cash flow hedges and net investment hedges, the changes in value of the hedging derivative are reflected in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in Citigroup's stockholders' equity, to the extent the hedge is effective. Hedge ineffectiveness, in either case, is reflected in current earnings.

        For asset/liability management hedging, the fixed-rate long-term debt would be recorded at amortized cost under current U.S. GAAP. However, by electing to use ASC 815 (SFAS 133) fair value hedge accounting, the carrying value of the debt is adjusted for changes in the benchmark interest rate, with any such changes in value recorded in current earnings. The related interest-rate swap is also recorded on the balance sheet at fair value, with any changes in fair value reflected in earnings. Thus, any ineffectiveness resulting from the hedging relationship is recorded in current earnings. Alternatively, a management hedge, which does not meet the ASC 815 hedging criteria, would involve recording only the derivative at fair value on the balance sheet, with its associated changes in fair value recorded in earnings. The debt would continue to be carried at amortized cost and, therefore, current earnings would be impacted only by the interest rate shifts and other factors that cause the change in the swap's value and may change the underlying yield of the debt. This type of hedge is undertaken when hedging requirements cannot be achieved or management decides not to apply ASC 815 hedge accounting. Another alternative for the Company would be to elect to carry the debt at fair value under the fair value option. Once the irrevocable election is made upon issuance of the debt, the full change in fair value of the debt would be reported in earnings. The related interest rate swap, with changes in fair value, would also be reflected in earnings, and provides a natural offset to the debt's fair value change. To the extent the two offsets are not exactly equal, the difference would be reflected in current earnings.

        Key aspects of achieving ASC 815 hedge accounting are documentation of hedging strategy and hedge effectiveness at the hedge inception and substantiating hedge effectiveness on an ongoing basis. A derivative must be highly effective in accomplishing the hedge objective of offsetting either changes in the fair value or cash flows of the hedged item for the risk being hedged. Any ineffectiveness in the hedge relationship is recognized in current earnings. The assessment of effectiveness excludes changes in the value of the hedged item that are unrelated to the risks being hedged. Similarly, the assessment of effectiveness may exclude changes in the fair value of a derivative related to time value that, if excluded, are recognized in current earnings.

Fair Value Hedges

Hedging of benchmark interest rate risk

        Citigroup hedges exposure to changes in the fair value of outstanding fixed-rate issued debt and certificates of deposit. Depending on the risk management objectives, these types of hedges are designated as either fair value hedges of only the benchmark interest rate risk or fair value hedges of both the benchmark interest rate and foreign exchange risk. The fixed cash flows from those financing transactions are converted to benchmark variable-rate cash flows by entering into, respectively, receive-fixed, pay-variable interest rate swaps or receive-fixed in non-functional currency, pay variable in functional currency swaps. Some of these fair value hedge relationships use dollar-offset ratio analysis to determine whether the hedging relationships are highly effective at inception and on an ongoing basis, while others use regression.

        Citigroup also hedges exposure to changes in the fair value of fixed-rate assets, including available-for-sale debt securities and loans. The hedging instruments used are receive-variable, pay-fixed interest rate swaps. Some of these fair value hedging relationships use dollar-offset ratio analysis to determine whether the hedging relationships are highly effective at inception and on an ongoing basis, while others use regression analysis.

Hedging of foreign exchange risk

        Citigroup hedges the change in fair value attributable to foreign-exchange rate movements in available-for-sale securities that are denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the entity holding the securities, which may be within or outside the U.S. The hedging instrument employed is a forward foreign-exchange contract. In this type of hedge, the change in fair value of the hedged available-for-sale security attributable to the portion of foreign exchange risk hedged is reported in earnings and not Accumulated other comprehensive income—a process that serves to offset substantially the change in fair value of the forward contract that is also reflected in earnings. Citigroup considers the premium associated with forward contracts (differential between spot and contractual forward rates) as the cost of hedging; this is excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness and reflected directly in earnings. The dollar-offset method is used to assess hedge effectiveness. Since that assessment is based on changes in fair value attributable to changes in spot rates on both the available-for-sale securities and the forward contracts for the portion of the relationship hedged, the amount of hedge ineffectiveness is not significant.

        The following table summarizes the gains (losses) on the Company's fair value hedges for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011:

 
  Gains (losses) on fair
value hedges(1) for the
three months ended
March 31,
 
In millions of dollars   2012   2011  

Gain (loss) on the derivatives in designated and qualifying fair value hedges

             

Interest rate contracts

  $ (1,492 ) $ (1,245 )

Foreign exchange contracts

    250     (489 )
           

Total gain (loss) on the derivatives in designated and qualifying fair value hedges

  $ (1,242 ) $ (1,734 )
           

Gain (loss) on the hedged item in designated and qualifying fair value hedges

             

Interest rate hedges

  $ 1,254   $ 1,114  

Foreign exchange hedges

    (234 )   474  
           

Total gain (loss) on the hedged item in designated and qualifying fair value hedges

  $ 1,020   $ 1,588  
           

Hedge ineffectiveness recognized in earnings on designated and qualifying fair value hedges

             

Interest rate hedges

  $ (238 ) $ (109 )

Foreign exchange hedges

    3     (5 )
           

Total hedge ineffectiveness recognized in earnings on designated and qualifying fair value hedges

  $ (235 ) $ (114 )
           

Net gain (loss) excluded from assessment of the effectiveness of fair value hedges

             

Interest rate contracts

  $   $ (22 )

Foreign exchange contracts

    13     (10 )
           

Total net gain (loss) excluded from assessment of the effectiveness of fair value hedges

  $ 13   $ (32 )
           

(1)
Amounts are included in Other revenue on the Consolidated Statement of Income. The accrued interest income on fair value hedges is recorded in Net interest revenue and is excluded from this table.

Cash Flow Hedges

Hedging of benchmark interest rate risk

        Citigroup hedges variable cash flows resulting from floating-rate liabilities and rollover (re-issuance) of short-term liabilities. Variable cash flows from those liabilities are converted to fixed-rate cash flows by entering into receive-variable, pay-fixed interest rate swaps and receive-variable, pay-fixed forward-starting interest rate swaps. These cash-flow hedging relationships use either regression analysis or dollar-offset ratio analysis to assess whether the hedging relationships are highly effective at inception and on an ongoing basis. When certain interest rates do not qualify as a benchmark interest rate, Citigroup designates the risk being hedged as the risk of overall changes in the hedged cash flows. Since efforts are made to match the terms of the derivatives to those of the hedged forecasted cash flows as closely as possible, the amount of hedge ineffectiveness is not significant.

Hedging of foreign exchange risk

        Citigroup locks in the functional currency equivalent cash flows of long-term debt and short-term borrowings that are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the issuing entity. Depending on the risk management objectives, these types of hedges are designated as either cash flow hedges of only foreign exchange risk or cash flow hedges of both foreign exchange and interest rate risk, and the hedging instruments used are foreign exchange cross-currency swaps and forward contracts. These cash flow hedge relationships use dollar-offset ratio analysis to determine whether the hedging relationships are highly effective at inception and on an ongoing basis.

Hedging of overall changes in cash flows

        Citigroup hedges the overall exposure to variability in cash flows related to the future acquisition of mortgage-backed securities using "to be announced" forward contracts. Since the hedged transaction is the gross settlement of the forward, the assessment of hedge effectiveness is based on assuring that the terms of the hedging instrument and the hedged forecasted transaction are the same.

Hedging total return

        Citigroup generally manages the risk associated with highly leveraged financing it has entered into by seeking to sell a majority of its exposures to the market prior to or shortly after funding. The portion of the highly leveraged financing that is retained by Citigroup is generally hedged with a total return swap.

        The amount of hedge ineffectiveness on the cash flow hedges recognized in earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011 is not significant.

        The pretax change in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) from cash flow hedges is presented below:

 
  Three months ended March 31,  
In millions of dollars   2012   2011  

Effective portion of cash flow hedges included in AOCI

             

Interest rate contracts

  $ 13   $ (38 )

Foreign exchange contracts

    69     (109 )
           

Total effective portion of cash flow hedges included in AOCI

  $ 82   $ (147 )
           

Effective portion of cash flow hedges reclassified from AOCI to earnings

             

Interest rate contracts

  $ (238 ) $ (337 )

Foreign exchange contracts

    (40 )   (74 )
           

Total effective portion of cash flow hedges reclassified from AOCI to earnings(1)

  $ (278 ) $ (411 )
           

(1)
Included primarily in Other revenue and Net interest revenue on the Consolidated Income Statement.

        For cash flow hedges, any changes in the fair value of the end-user derivative remaining in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the Consolidated Balance Sheet will be included in earnings of future periods to offset the variability of the hedged cash flows when such cash flows affect earnings. The net loss associated with cash flow hedges expected to be reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within 12 months of March 31, 2012 is approximately $1.0 billion. The maximum length of time over which forecasted cash flows are hedged is 10 years.

        The after-tax impact of cash flow hedges on AOCI is shown in Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statement.

Net Investment Hedges

        Consistent with ASC 830-20, Foreign Currency Matters—Foreign Currency Transactions (formerly SFAS 52, Foreign Currency Translation), ASC 815 allows hedging of the foreign currency risk of a net investment in a foreign operation. Citigroup uses foreign currency forwards, options, swaps and foreign-currency-denominated debt instruments to manage the foreign exchange risk associated with Citigroup's equity investments in several non-U.S. dollar functional currency foreign subsidiaries. Citigroup records the change in the carrying amount of these investments in the Foreign currency translation adjustment account within Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Simultaneously, the effective portion of the hedge of this exposure is also recorded in the Foreign currency translation adjustment account and the ineffective portion, if any, is immediately recorded in earnings.

        For derivatives used in net investment hedges, Citigroup follows the forward-rate method from FASB Derivative Implementation Group Issue H8 (now ASC 815-35-35-16 through 35-26), "Foreign Currency Hedges: Measuring the Amount of Ineffectiveness in a Net Investment Hedge." According to that method, all changes in fair value, including changes related to the forward-rate component of the foreign currency forward contracts and the time value of foreign currency options, are recorded in the Foreign currency translation adjustment account within Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

        For foreign-currency-denominated debt instruments that are designated as hedges of net investments, the translation gain or loss that is recorded in the Foreign currency translation adjustment account is based on the spot exchange rate between the functional currency of the respective subsidiary and the U.S. dollar, which is the functional currency of Citigroup. To the extent the notional amount of the hedging instrument exactly matches the hedged net investment and the underlying exchange rate of the derivative hedging instrument relates to the exchange rate between the functional currency of the net investment and Citigroup's functional currency (or, in the case of a non-derivative debt instrument, such instrument is denominated in the functional currency of the net investment), no ineffectiveness is recorded in earnings.

        The pretax gain (loss) recorded in the Foreign currency translation adjustment account within Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), related to the effective portion of the net investment hedges, is $(2,005) million and $(884) million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011, respectively.

Credit Derivatives

        A credit derivative is a bilateral contract between a buyer and a seller under which the seller agrees to provide protection to the buyer against the credit risk of a particular entity ("reference entity" or "reference credit"). Credit derivatives generally require that the seller of credit protection make payments to the buyer upon the occurrence of predefined credit events (commonly referred to as "settlement triggers"). These settlement triggers are defined by the form of the derivative and the reference credit and are generally limited to the market standard of failure to pay on indebtedness and bankruptcy of the reference credit and, in a more limited range of transactions, debt restructuring. Credit derivative transactions referring to emerging market reference credits will also typically include additional settlement triggers to cover the acceleration of indebtedness and the risk of repudiation or a payment moratorium. In certain transactions, protection may be provided on a portfolio of referenced credits or asset-backed securities. The seller of such protection may not be required to make payment until a specified amount of losses has occurred with respect to the portfolio and/or may only be required to pay for losses up to a specified amount.

        The Company makes markets in and trades a range of credit derivatives, both on behalf of clients as well as for its own account. Through these contracts, the Company either purchases or writes protection on either a single name or a portfolio of reference credits. The Company uses credit derivatives to help mitigate credit risk in its Corporate and Consumer loan portfolios and other cash positions, to take proprietary trading positions, and to facilitate client transactions.

        The range of credit derivatives sold includes credit default swaps, total return swaps, credit options and credit-linked notes.

        A credit default swap is a contract in which, for a fee, a protection seller agrees to reimburse a protection buyer for any losses that occur due to a credit event on a reference entity. If there is no credit default event or settlement trigger, as defined by the specific derivative contract, then the protection seller makes no payments to the protection buyer and receives only the contractually specified fee. However, if a credit event occurs as defined in the specific derivative contract sold, the protection seller will be required to make a payment to the protection buyer.

        A total return swap transfers the total economic performance of a reference asset, which includes all associated cash flows, as well as capital appreciation or depreciation. The protection buyer receives a floating rate of interest and any depreciation on the reference asset from the protection seller and, in return, the protection seller receives the cash flows associated with the reference asset plus any appreciation. Thus, according to the total return swap agreement, the protection seller will be obligated to make a payment any time the floating interest rate payment and any depreciation of the reference asset exceed the cash flows associated with the underlying asset. A total return swap may terminate upon a default of the reference asset subject to the provisions of the related total return swap agreement between the protection seller and the protection buyer.

        A credit option is a credit derivative that allows investors to trade or hedge changes in the credit quality of the reference asset. For example, in a credit spread option, the option writer assumes the obligation to purchase or sell the reference asset at a specified "strike" spread level. The option purchaser buys the right to sell the reference asset to, or purchase it from, the option writer at the strike spread level. The payments on credit spread options depend either on a particular credit spread or the price of the underlying credit-sensitive asset. The options usually terminate if the underlying assets default.

        A credit-linked note is a form of credit derivative structured as a debt security with an embedded credit default swap. The purchaser of the note writes credit protection to the issuer, and receives a return which will be negatively affected by credit events on the underlying reference credit. If the reference entity defaults, the purchaser of the credit-linked note may assume the long position in the debt security and any future cash flows from it, but will lose the amount paid to the issuer of the credit-linked note. Thus the maximum amount of the exposure is the carrying amount of the credit-linked note. As of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the amount of credit-linked notes held by the Company in trading inventory was immaterial.

        The following tables summarize the key characteristics of the Company's credit derivative portfolio as protection seller as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011:

In millions of dollars as of
March 31, 2012
  Maximum potential
amount of
future payments
  Fair
value
payable(1)(2)
 

By industry/counterparty

             

Bank

  $ 917,307   $ 27,886  

Broker-dealer

    321,445     12,329  

Non-financial

    1,690     93  

Insurance and other financial institutions

    190,733     5,683  
           

Total by industry/counterparty

  $ 1,431,175   $ 45,991  
           

By instrument

             

Credit default swaps and options

  $ 1,430,010   $ 45,851  

Total return swaps and other

    1,165     140  
           

Total by instrument

  $ 1,431,175   $ 45,991  
           

By rating

             

Investment grade

  $ 628,888   $ 11,294  

Non-investment grade

    224,332     18,828  

Not rated

    577,955     15,869  
           

Total by rating

  $ 1,431,175   $ 45,991  
           

By maturity

             

Within 1 year

  $ 302,097   $ 1,971  

From 1 to 5 years

    909,578     27,753  

After 5 years

    219,500     16,267  
           

Total by maturity

  $ 1,431,175   $ 45,991  
           

(1)
In addition, fair value amounts payable under credit derivatives purchased were $17,776 million.

(2)
In addition, fair value amounts receivable under credit derivatives sold were $16,609 million.

In millions of dollars as of
December 31, 2011
  Maximum potential
amount of
future payments
  Fair
value
payable(1)(2)
 

By industry/counterparty

             

Bank

  $ 929,608   $ 45,920  

Broker-dealer

    321,293     19,026  

Non-financial

    1,048     98  

Insurance and other financial institutions

    142,579     7,447  
           

Total by industry/counterparty

  $ 1,394,528   $ 72,491  
           

By instrument

             

Credit default swaps and options

  $ 1,393,082   $ 72,358  

Total return swaps and other

    1,446     133  
           

Total by instrument

  $ 1,394,528   $ 72,491  
           

By rating

             

Investment grade

  $ 611,447   $ 16,913  

Non-investment grade

    226,939     28,034  

Not rated

    556,142     27,544  
           

Total by rating

  $ 1,394,528   $ 72,491  
           

By maturity

             

Within 1 year

  $ 266,723   $ 3,705  

From 1 to 5 years

    947,211     46,596  

After 5 years

    180,594     22,190  
           

Total by maturity

  $ 1,394,528   $ 72,491  
           

(1)
In addition, fair value amounts payable under credit derivatives purchased were $12,361 million.

(2)
In addition, fair value amounts receivable under credit derivatives sold were $11,335 million.

        Citigroup evaluates the payment/performance risk of the credit derivatives for which it stands as a protection seller based on the credit rating assigned to the underlying referenced credit. Where external ratings by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (such as Moody's and S&P) are used, investment grade ratings are considered to be Baa/BBB or above, while anything below is considered non-investment grade. The Citigroup internal ratings are in line with the related external credit rating system. On certain underlying reference credits, mainly related to over-the-counter credit derivatives, ratings are not available, and these are included in the not-rated category. Credit derivatives written on an underlying non-investment grade reference credit represent greater payment risk to the Company. The non-investment grade category in the table above primarily includes credit derivatives where the underlying referenced entity has been downgraded subsequent to the inception of the derivative.

        The maximum potential amount of future payments under credit derivative contracts presented in the table above is based on the notional value of the derivatives. The Company believes that the maximum potential amount of future payments for credit protection sold is not representative of the actual loss exposure based on historical experience. This amount has not been reduced by the Company's rights to the underlying assets and the related cash flows. In accordance with most credit derivative contracts, should a credit event (or settlement trigger) occur, the Company is usually liable for the difference between the protection sold and the recourse it holds in the value of the underlying assets. Thus, if the reference entity defaults, Citi will generally have a right to collect on the underlying reference credit and any related cash flows, while being liable for the full notional amount of credit protection sold to the buyer. Furthermore, this maximum potential amount of future payments for credit protection sold has not been reduced for any cash collateral paid to a given counterparty as such payments would be calculated after netting all derivative exposures, including any credit derivatives with that counterparty in accordance with a related master netting agreement. Due to such netting processes, determining the amount of collateral that corresponds to credit derivative exposures alone is not possible. The Company actively monitors open credit risk exposures, and manages this exposure by using a variety of strategies including purchased credit derivatives, cash collateral or direct holdings of the referenced assets. This risk mitigation activity is not captured in the table above.

Credit-Risk-Related Contingent Features in Derivatives

        Certain derivative instruments contain provisions that require the Company to either post additional collateral or immediately settle any outstanding liability balances upon the occurrence of a specified credit-risk-related event. These events, which are defined by the existing derivative contracts, are primarily downgrades in the credit ratings of the Company and its affiliates. The fair value (excluding CVA) of all derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features that are in a liability position at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 is $31 billion and $33 billion, respectively. The Company has posted $24 billion and $28 billion as collateral for this exposure in the normal course of business as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. Each downgrade would trigger additional collateral requirements for the Company and its affiliates. In the event that each legal entity was downgraded a single notch as of March 31, 2012, the Company would be required to post additional collateral of $2.7 billion.