HSBC 2012 Annual Report Download - page 451

449
Overview
Operating & Financial Review
Corporate Governance
Financial Statements
Shareholder Information
The fair values of loans and advances to customers in Latin America are higher than their carrying amount, primarily
driven by a decrease in market interest rates, and in particular for the mortgage portfolios.
Fair values of the assets and liabilities set out below are estimated for the purpose of disclosure as follows:
Loans and advances to banks and customers
The fair value of loans and advances is based on observable market transactions, where available. In the absence of
observable market transactions, fair value is estimated using valuation models that incorporate a range of input
assumptions. These assumptions may include value estimates from third party brokers which reflect over-the-counter
trading activity; forward looking discounted cash flow models using assumptions which HSBC believes are
consistent with those which would be used by market participants in valuing such loans; and trading inputs from
other market participants which includes observed primary and secondary trades.
Loans are grouped, as far as possible, into homogeneous groups and stratified by loans with similar characteristics to
improve the accuracy of estimated valuation outputs. The stratification of a loan book considers all material factors,
including vintage, origination period, estimates of future interest rates, prepayment speeds, delinquency rates, loan-
to-value ratios, the quality of collateral, default probability, and internal credit risk ratings.
Valuation techniques are calibrated on a regular basis and tested for validity using prices from observable current
market transactions in the same instrument, without modification or repackaging, or are based on any available
observable market data.
The fair value of a loan reflects both loan impairments at the balance sheet date and estimates of market participants’
expectations of credit losses over the life of the loans, and the fair value impact of repricing between origination and
the balance sheet date. For impaired loans, fair value is estimated by discounting the future cash flows over the time
period they are expected to be recovered.
Financial investments
The fair values of listed financial investments are determined using bid market prices. The fair values of unlisted
financial investments are determined using valuation techniques that take into consideration the prices and future
earnings streams of equivalent quoted securities.
Deposits by banks and customer accounts
For the purpose of estimating fair value, deposits by banks and customer accounts are grouped by remaining
contractual maturity. Fair values are estimated using discounted cash flows, applying current rates offered for
deposits of similar remaining maturities. The fair value of a deposit repayable on demand is assumed to be the
amount payable on demand at the balance sheet date.
Debt securities in issue and subordinated liabilities
Fair values are determined using quoted market prices at the balance sheet date where available, or by reference to
quoted market prices for similar instruments.
The fair values in this note are stated at a specific date and may be significantly different from the amounts which
will actually be paid on the maturity or settlement dates of the instruments. In many cases, it would not be possible to
realise immediately the estimated fair values given the size of the portfolios measured. Accordingly, these fair values
do not represent the value of these financial instruments to HSBC as a going concern.
HSBC Holdings
The methods used by HSBC Holdings to determine fair values of financial instruments for the purpose of
measurement and disclosure are described above.
The following table provides an analysis of the fair value of financial instruments not carried at fair value on the
balance sheet: