Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Our primary market risks are exposures to changes in interest rates impacting our investment income and interest expense and the fair value of certain of our fixed-rate investments and debt, as well as foreign currency exchange rate risk of the U.S. dollar primarily to the Brazilian real and Chilean peso.
As of December 31, 2023, we had $34 billion of financial assets on which the interest rates received vary with market interest rates, which may significantly impact our investment income. Also as of December 31, 2023, $20 billion of our financial liabilities, which include debt and deposit liabilities, were at interest rates which vary with market rates, either directly or through the use of related interest rate swap contracts.
The fair value of our fixed-rate investments and debt also varies with market interest rates. As of December 31, 2023, $43 billion of our investments were fixed-rate debt securities and $44 billion of our debt was non-swapped fixed-rate term debt. An increase in market interest rates decreases the market value of fixed-rate investments and fixed-rate debt. Conversely, a decrease in market interest rates increases the market value of fixed-rate investments and fixed-rate debt.
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We manage exposure to market interest rates by diversifying investments across different fixed-income market sectors and debt across maturities, as well as by matching a portion of our floating-rate assets and liabilities, either directly or through the use of interest rate swap contracts. Unrealized gains and losses on investments in available-for-sale debt securities are reported in comprehensive income.
The following tables summarize the impact of hypothetical changes in market interest rates across the entire yield curve by 1% point or 2% points as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 on our investment income and interest expense per annum and the fair value of our investments and debt (in millions, except percentages):
December 31, 2023
Increase (Decrease) in Market Interest Rate Investment
Income Per
Annum Interest
Expense Per
Annum Fair Value of
Financial Assets Fair Value of
Financial Liabilities
2 % $ 688 $ 393 $ (3,642) $ (8,142)
1 344 196 (1,871) (4,444)
(1) (344) (180) 1,954 5,391
(2) (688) (360) 3,964 11,992
December 31, 2022
Increase (Decrease) in Market Interest Rate Investment
Income Per
Annum Interest
Expense Per
Annum Fair Value of
Financial Assets Fair Value of
Financial Liabilities
2% $ 629 $ 327 $ (3,390) $ (7,365)
1 314 164 (1,746) (4,002)
(1) (314) (135) 1,838 4,808
(2) (629) (266) 3,746 10,641
Note: The impact of hypothetical changes in interest rates may not reflect the full 100 or 200 basis point change on interest income and interest expense or on the fair value of financial assets and liabilities as the rates are assumed to not fall below zero.
We have an exposure to changes in the value of foreign currencies, primarily the Brazilian real and the Chilean peso, to the U.S. dollar in translation of UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual’s international business operating results at the average exchange rate over the accounting period, and assets and liabilities at the exchange rate at the end of the accounting period. The gains or losses resulting from translating foreign assets and liabilities into U.S. dollars are included in equity and comprehensive income.
An appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Brazilian real or Chilean peso reduces the carrying value of the net assets denominated in those currencies. For example, as of December 31, 2023, a hypothetical 10% and 25% increase in the value of the U.S. dollar against those currencies would have caused a reduction in net assets of approximately $590 million and $1.3 billion, respectively. We manage exposure to foreign currency earnings risk primarily by conducting our international business operations in their functional currencies.
As of December 31, 2023, we had $ 4.9 billion of investments in equity securities, primarily consisting of venture investments, employee savings plan related investments and non-U.S. dollar fixed-income funds. Valuations in non-U.S. dollar funds are subject to foreign exchange rates.
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