## Notes to the financial statements for the financial year ended 31 March 2014 

continued 

## Note 1 Summary of significant accounting policies continued 

## (ix) Trading portfolio assets and liabilities 

Trading portfolio assets (long positions) comprise debt and equity securities, bank bills, treasury notes, bullion and commodities purchased with the intent of being actively traded. Trading portfolio liabilities (short positions) comprise obligations to deliver assets across the same trading categories, which the Consolidated Entity has short-sold and are actively traded. 

Assets and liabilities included in the trading portfolio are carried at fair value (see note 39). Realised gains and losses, and unrealised gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value of the trading portfolio are recognised as net trading income in the income statement in the period in which they arise. Dividend income or expense on the trading portfolio is recognised in the income statement as net trading income. 

The Consolidated Entity uses trade date accounting when recording regular way purchases and sales of financial assets. At the date the transaction is entered into (trade date), the Consolidated Entity recognises the resulting financial asset or liability and any subsequent unrealised profits or losses arising from revaluing that contract to fair value in the income statement. When the Consolidated Entity becomes party to a sale contract of a financial asset, it derecognises the asset and recognises a trade receivable from trade date until settlement date. 

## (x) Derivative instruments 

Derivative instruments entered into by the Consolidated Entity include futures, forwards and forward rate agreements, swaps and options in the interest rate, foreign exchange, commodity and equity markets. These derivative instruments are principally used for the risk management of existing financial assets and financial liabilities. 

All derivatives, including those used for statement of financial position hedging purposes, are recognised on the statement of financial position and are disclosed as an asset where they have a positive fair value at balance date or as a liability where the fair value at balance date is negative. 

Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and subsequently re-measured to their fair value. Fair values are obtained from quoted market prices in active markets including recent market transactions, and valuation techniques including discounted cash flow models and option pricing models, as appropriate. Movements in the fair values of derivatives are recognised in the income statement in net trading income, unless the derivative meets the requirements for hedge accounting. 

The best evidence of a derivative’s fair value at initial recognition is its transaction price, unless its fair value is evidenced by comparison with other observable current market transactions in the same instrument, or based on a valuation technique for which variables include only data from observable markets. Where such alternative evidence exists, the Consolidated Entity recognises profits or losses immediately when the derivative is recognised. 

## (xi) Hedge accounting 

The Consolidated Entity designates certain derivatives or financial instruments as hedging instruments in qualifying hedge relationships. On initial designation of the hedge, the Consolidated Entity documents the hedge relationship between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategies. The Consolidated Entity also documents its assessment, both at hedge inception and on an ongoing basis, of whether hedging relationships have been and will continue to be highly effective. Derivatives or financial instruments can be designated in one of three types of hedge relationships. 

## Cash flow hedges 

For a derivative or financial instrument designated as hedging the variability in cash flows attributable to a particular risk associated with a recognised asset or liability (or a highly probable forecast transaction), the gain or loss on the derivative or financial instrument associated with the effective portion of the hedge is initially recognised in OCI in the cash flow hedging reserve and subsequently released to the income statement when the hedged item affects the income statement. The gain or loss relating to the ineffective portion of the hedge is recognised immediately in the income statement. 

## Fair value hedges 

For a derivative or financial instrument designated as hedging the change in fair value of a recognised asset or liability (or an unrecognised firm commitment), the gain or loss on the derivative or financial instrument is recognised in the income statement immediately, together with the loss or gain on the hedged asset or liability that is attributable to the hedged risk. 

## Net investment hedges 

For a derivative or borrowing designated as hedging a net investment in a foreign operation, the gain or loss on revaluing the derivative or borrowing associated with the effective portion of the hedge is recognised in the foreign currency translation reserve and subsequently released to the income statement when the foreign operation is disposed of. The ineffective portion is recognised in the income statement immediately. 

The fair values of various financial instruments used for hedging purposes are disclosed in note 39. Movements in the cash flow hedging reserve in equity are shown in note 29. 

## (xii) Investments and other financial assets 

With the exception of trading portfolio assets and derivatives, which are classified separately in the statement of financial position, the remaining investments in financial assets are classified into the following categories: loans and receivables, other financial assets at fair value through profit or loss and investment securities available for sale. The classification depends on the purpose for which the financial asset was acquired, which is determined at initial recognition and, except for other financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, is re- evaluated at each balance date. 

