Goldman Sachs 2012 Annual Report Download - page 122

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 6.
Cash Instruments
Cash instruments include U.S. government and federal
agency obligations, non-U.S. government and agency
obligations, bank loans and bridge loans, corporate debt
securities, equities and convertible debentures, and other
non-derivative financial instruments owned and financial
instruments sold, but not yet purchased. See below for the
types of cash instruments included in each level of the fair
value hierarchy and the valuation techniques and
significant inputs used to determine their fair values. See
Note 5 for an overview of the firm’s fair value
measurement policies.
Level 1 Cash Instruments
Level 1 cash instruments include U.S. government
obligations and most non-U.S. government obligations,
actively traded listed equities, certain government agency
obligations and money market instruments. These
instruments are valued using quoted prices for identical
unrestricted instruments in active markets.
The firm defines active markets for equity instruments
based on the average daily trading volume both in absolute
terms and relative to the market capitalization for the
instrument. The firm defines active markets for debt
instruments based on both the average daily trading volume
and the number of days with trading activity.
Level 2 Cash Instruments
Level 2 cash instruments include commercial paper,
certificates of deposit, time deposits, most government
agency obligations, certain non-U.S. government
obligations, most corporate debt securities, commodities,
certain mortgage-backed loans and securities, certain bank
loans and bridge loans, restricted or less liquid listed
equities, most state and municipal obligations and certain
lending commitments.
Valuations of level 2 cash instruments can be verified to
quoted prices, recent trading activity for identical or similar
instruments, broker or dealer quotations or alternative
pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency.
Consideration is given to the nature of the quotations (e.g.,
indicative or firm) and the relationship of recent market
activity to the prices provided from alternative
pricing sources.
Valuation adjustments are typically made to level 2 cash
instruments (i) if the cash instrument is subject to transfer
restrictions and/or (ii) for other premiums and liquidity
discounts that a market participant would require to arrive
at fair value. Valuation adjustments are generally based on
market evidence.
Level 3 Cash Instruments
Level 3 cash instruments have one or more significant
valuation inputs that are not observable. Absent evidence to
the contrary, level 3 cash instruments are initially valued at
transaction price, which is considered to be the best initial
estimate of fair value. Subsequently, the firm uses other
methodologies to determine fair value, which vary based on
the type of instrument. Valuation inputs and assumptions
are changed when corroborated by substantive observable
evidence, including values realized on sales of
financial assets.
120 Goldman Sachs 2012 Annual Report