Study Guide: CFA Level 1

Marketable & Nonmarketable Instruments
Financial instruments are found on both sides of the balance sheet. Some are contracts that represent the asset of one company and the liability of another. Financial assets include investment securities like stocks and bonds, derivatives, loans and receivables. Financial liabilities include derivatives, notes payable and bonds payable. Some financial instruments are reported on the balance sheet at fair value (marking to market), while others are reported at present value or at cost. The FASB recently issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” which allows any firm the ability to report almost any financial asset or liability at fair value. Marketable investment securities are classified as one of the following:

• Held to Maturity Securities: Debt securities that are acquired with the intention of holding them until maturity. They are reported at cost and adjusted for the payment of interest. Unrealized gains or losses are not reported.
• Trading Securities: Debt and equity securities that are acquired with the intention to trade them in the near term for a profit. Trading securities are reported on the balance sheet at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses before the securities are sold are reported in the income statement.
• Available for Sale Securities: are debt and equity securities that are not expected to be held until maturity or sold in the near term. Although like trading securities, available for sale securities are reported on the balance sheet at fair value, unrealized gains and losses are reported as other income as part of stockholder’s equity.