| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2019 |
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
| Basis of Presentation | Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared by us in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP. These statements include the accounts of our wholly-owned and controlled subsidiaries. For consolidated subsidiaries in which our ownership is less than 100% and for which we have control over the assets and liabilities and the management of the entity, the outside stockholders’ interests are shown as non-controlling interests. Where outside owners hold an option to require us to repurchase their interests, these amounts are shown as redeemable non-controlling interests and are subject to remeasurement when repurchase is probable (Note 3). All intercompany balances and transactions between us and our wholly-owned and controlled subsidiaries have been eliminated in consolidation. The financial results of companies we acquire are included from the acquisition dates and the results of companies we sold are included up to the disposition dates. The accounting policies used to prepare these financial statements are the same as those used to prepare the consolidated financial statements in prior years except as described in these footnotes or for the adoption of new standards as outlined below. |
| Use of Estimates | Use of Estimates Preparing financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying disclosures. Actual amounts could differ from those estimates. |
| Comprehensive Income | Comprehensive Income Other comprehensive income includes foreign currency translation adjustments, comprehensive income from equity method investments, and amortization of the difference in the projected benefit obligation and the accumulated benefit obligation associated with benefit plan liabilities, net of tax. Prior to the January 1, 2018 adoption of Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, No. 2016-01, see "-Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements" below, our other comprehensive income included changes in unrealized gains and losses on financial instruments classified as available-for-sale. |
| Segment and Geographic Information | Segment and Geographic Information We operate and present our results based on our two business segments: the Trading and Clearing segment that comprises our transaction-based execution and clearing businesses and the Data and Listings segment that comprises our subscription-based data services and securities listings businesses. This presentation is reflective of how our chief operating decision maker reviews and operates our business. The majority of our identifiable assets are located in the U.S and U.K. (Note 18). |
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | Cash and Cash Equivalents We consider all short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities at the purchase date of three months or less to be cash equivalents. |
| Short-Term and Long-Term Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents | Short-Term and Long-Term Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents We classify all cash and cash equivalents that are not available for immediate or general business use by us as restricted in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets (Note 6). This includes amounts set aside due to regulatory requirements, earmarked for specific purposes, or restricted by specific agreements. We also invest a portion of funds in excess of short-term operating needs in term deposits and investment-grade marketable debt securities, including government or government-sponsored agencies and corporate debt securities. These are classified as cash equivalents, are short-term in nature and carrying amount approximates fair value. |
| Investments | Investments We have made various investments in the equity securities of other companies. We also invest in mutual funds and fixed income securities. We classify all other investments that are not cash equivalents with original maturity dates of less than one year as short-term investments and all investments that we intend to hold for more than one year as long-term investments. Short-term and long-term investments are included in other current and other non-current assets, respectively. Investments in equity securities, or equity investments, are carried at fair value, with changes in fair value, whether realized or unrealized, recognized in net income. For those investments that do not have readily determinable fair market values, such as those which are not publicly-listed companies, we have made a fair value policy election under ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, or ASU 2016-01. The election requires us to only adjust the fair value of such investments if and when there is an observable price change in an orderly transaction of a similar or identical investment, with any change in fair value recognized in net income. Investments that we intend to hold for more than one year are classified as other non-current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. See “Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements” below for the new financial instruments accounting standard and its impact on the accounting for our investments. |
| Equity Method Investments | When we do not have a controlling financial interest in an entity but exercise significant influence over the entity’s operating and financial policies, such investments are accounted for using the equity method and included in other non-current assets. We recognize dividends when declared as a reduction in the carrying value of our equity method investments. |
| Margin Deposits, Guaranty Funds and Delivery Contracts Receivable and Payable | Margin Deposits, Guaranty Funds and Delivery Contracts Receivable and Payable Original margin, variation margin and guaranty funds held by our clearing houses may be in the form of cash, government obligations, certain agency debt, letters of credit or gold (Note 14). We hold the cash deposits at highly-rated financial institutions or through reverse repurchase agreements or direct investments. See "Credit Risk and Significant Customers", below. Cash and cash equivalent original margin, variation margin and guaranty fund deposits are reflected as current assets and current liabilities. The amount of margin deposits on hand will fluctuate over time as a result of, among other things, the extent of open positions held at any point in time by market participants in contracts and the margin rates then in effect for such contracts. Changes in our margin accounts are not reflected in our consolidated statements of cash flows. Non-cash and cash equivalent original margin and guaranty fund deposits are not reflected in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as the risks and rewards of these assets remain with the clearing members unless the clearing houses have sold or re-pledged the assets or in the event of a clearing member default, where the clearing member is no longer entitled to redeem the assets. Any income, gain or loss accrues to the clearing members. ICE NGX, which we acquired in December 2017, owns a clearing house which administers the physical delivery of energy trading contracts. It serves as an intermediary counterparty to both the buyer and seller. When physical delivery has occurred and/or settlement amounts have been determined, an asset is recorded as a delivery contract receivable and an offsetting payable is recorded for the amounts owed to or due from the contract participants. Amounts recorded at period-end represent receivables and payables for deliveries that have occurred but for which payment has not been received or made. There is no impact on our consolidated statements of income as an equal amount is recognized as both an asset and a liability. ICE NGX also records unsettled variation margin equal to the fair value of open energy trading contracts as of the balance sheet date. |
| Property and Equipment | Property and Equipment Property and equipment is recorded at cost, reduced by accumulated depreciation (Note 7). Depreciation and amortization is computed using the straight-line method based on estimated useful lives of the assets, or in the case of leasehold improvements, the shorter of the initial lease term or the estimated useful life of the improvement. We review the remaining estimated useful lives at each balance sheet date and make adjustments whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the remaining useful lives have changed. Gains on disposals are included in other income and losses on disposals are included in depreciation expense. Maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred. |
| Allowance for Doubtful Accounts | Bad debt expense in the table above is based on our historical collection experiences and our assessment of the collectability of specific accounts. Charge-offs in the table above represent the write-off of uncollectible receivables, net of recoveries. These amounts also include the impact of foreign currency translation adjustments. Allowance for Doubtful Accounts |
| Software Development Costs | Software Development Costs We capitalize costs related to software we develop or obtain for internal use . The costs capitalized include both internal and external direct and incremental costs. General and administrative costs related to developing or obtaining such software are expensed as incurred. Development costs incurred during the preliminary or maintenance project stages are expensed as incurred. Costs incurred during the application development stage are capitalized and amortized using the straight-line method over the useful life of the software, generally not exceeding three years (except for certain ICE Data Services and NYSE platforms, which have seven-year useful lives). Amortization begins only when the software becomes ready for its intended use. |
| Accrued Employee Benefits | Accrued Employee Benefits We have a defined benefit pension plan and other postretirement benefit plans, or collectively the “benefit plans,” covering certain of our U.S. operations. The benefit accrual for the pension plan is frozen. We recognize the funded status of the benefit plans in our consolidated balance sheets, measure the fair value of plan assets and benefit obligations as of the date of our fiscal year-end, and provide additional disclosures in the footnotes (Note 16). Benefit plan costs and liabilities are dependent on assumptions used in calculating such amounts. These are provided by a third-party specialist and include discount rates, health care cost trend rates, benefits earned, interest cost, expected return on assets, mortality rates and other factors. Actual results that differ from the assumptions are accumulated and amortized over future periods and, therefore, generally affect recognized expense and the recorded obligation in future periods. However, certain of these unrecognized amounts are recognized when triggering events occur, such as when a settlement of pension obligations in excess of total interest and service costs occurs. While we believe that the assumptions used are appropriate, differences in actual experience or changes in assumptions may affect our pension and other post-retirement obligations and future expense recognized. |
| Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets | Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of our acquisitions over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired, including other identified intangible assets (Note 8). We recognize specifically-identifiable intangibles when a specific right or contract is acquired with the assistance of third-party valuation specialists. Goodwill has been allocated to our reporting units for purposes of impairment testing based on the portion of synergy, cost savings and other expected future cash flows expected to benefit the reporting units at the time of the acquisition. The reporting units identified for our goodwill testing are the Futures, Data and Listings, Cash Equities, Fixed Income and Credit reporting units. Goodwill impairment testing is performed annually at the reporting unit level in the fiscal fourth quarter or more frequently if conditions exist that indicate that it may be impaired. We also evaluate indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually in our fiscal fourth quarter or more frequently if conditions exist that indicate that an asset may be impaired. For both goodwill and indefinite-lived impairment testing, we have the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit or indefinite lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount. If we conclude that this is the case, we must perform additional testing of the asset or reporting unit. Otherwise, no further testing is necessary. If the fair value of the goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying value, an impairment loss is recognized in earnings in an amount equal to the difference. For our goodwill impairment testing, we have elected to bypass the qualitative assessment and apply the quantitative approach. For our testing of indefinite-lived intangible assets, we apply qualitative and quantitative approaches. |
| Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Finite-Lived Intangible Assets | Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Finite-Lived Intangible Assets We review our property and equipment and finite-lived intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be fully recoverable. When these indicators exist, we project undiscounted net future cash flows over the remaining life of such assets. If the sum of the projected cash flows is less than the carrying amount, an impairment would exist, measured based upon the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the assets. Finite-lived intangible assets are generally amortized using the straight-line method or an accelerated method over the lesser of their contractual or estimated useful lives. |
| Derivatives and Hedging Activity | Derivatives and Hedging Activity Periodically, we may use derivative financial instruments to manage exposure to changes in currency exchange rates. All derivatives are recorded at fair value. We generally do not designate these derivatives as hedges for accounting purposes. Accordingly, changes in fair value are recognized in income. We entered into foreign currency hedging transactions during 2019 , 2018 and 2017 as economic hedges to help mitigate a portion of our foreign exchange risk exposure. The gains and losses on these transactions were not material during these years. |
| Intellectual Property | Intellectual Property All costs related to internally developed patents and trademarks are expensed as incurred. All costs related to purchased patents, trademarks and internet domain names are recorded as other intangible assets and are amortized using a straight-line method over their estimated useful lives. All costs related to licensed patents are capitalized and amortized using a straight-line method over the term of the license. |
| Income Taxes | Income Taxes We recognize income taxes under the liability method. We recognize a current tax liability or tax asset for the estimated taxes payable or refundable on tax returns for the current year. We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. We establish valuation allowances if we believe that it is more likely than not that some or all of our deferred tax assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using current enacted tax rates in effect. We do not recognize a tax benefit unless we conclude that it is more likely than not that the benefit will be sustained on audit by the taxing authority based solely on the technical merits of the associated tax position. If the recognition threshold is met, we recognize a tax benefit measured at the largest amount of the tax benefit that, in our judgment, is greater than 50 percent likely to be realized. We recognize accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense. We are subject to tax in numerous domestic and foreign jurisdictions primarily based on our operations in these jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in assessing the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns. Fluctuations in the actual outcome of these future tax consequences could have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations. During 2018, we completed our accounting for the tax effects of the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or TCJA. We reaffirmed our position that we were not subject to transition tax as of December 31, 2017 under the TCJA. In addition, we concluded that the $764 million of deferred tax benefit recorded in the 2017 income tax provision was a reasonable estimate of the TCJA's effects on our deferred tax balances. The Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, provided guidance to address the accounting for the effects of the provisions related to the taxation of Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income noting that companies should make an accounting policy election to recognize deferred taxes for temporary basis differences expected to reverse as Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income in future years or to include the tax expense in the year it is incurred. We have completed our analysis of the effects of these provisions and have made a policy election to recognize such taxes as current period expenses when incurred. We use a portfolio approach with respect to pension, postretirement benefits plan obligations and currency translation matters when we determine the timing and extent to which stranded income tax effects from items that were previously recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income are released. |
| Revenue Recognition | Adoption of ASC 606, Revenues from Contracts with Customers The FASB has issued ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers , and ASC 340-40, Other Assets and Deferred Costs - Contracts with Customers , collectively referred to as ASC 606. ASC 606 provides guidance outlining a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. ASC 606 superseded prior revenue recognition guidance and requires us to recognize revenue when we transfer promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASC 606 requires enhanced disclosures, including (i) revenue recognition policies used to identify performance obligations to customers and (ii) the use of significant judgments in measurement and recognition. On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASC 606 retrospectively and restated each prior period presented. Our adoption of ASC 606 accelerated the timing of recognition of a portion of original listing fees related to our New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, businesses. In addition, and to a lesser extent, the adoption decelerated the timing of recognition of a portion of clearing fee revenues. The impact of our adoption of ASC 606 on our performance obligations in our clearing business was minimal. Revenue recognition related to all other trading, clearing and data businesses remained unchanged. Our adoption of ASC 606 was subject to the same internal controls over financial reporting that we apply to our consolidated financial statements. Revenue Recognition Our revenues primarily consist of transaction and clearing fee revenues for transactions executed and/or cleared through our global electronic derivatives trading and clearing platforms and cash equities trading as well as revenues related to our data services fees and listing fees. We recognize revenue when we transfer promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which we expect to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. We enter into contracts that can include various combinations of products and services, which are generally capable of being distinct and accounted for as separate performance obligations. We also evaluate all contracts in order to determine appropriate gross versus net revenue reporting. Substantially all of our revenues are considered to be revenues from contracts with customers. The related accounts receivable balances are recorded in our balance sheets as customer accounts receivable. We do not have obligations for warranties, returns or refunds to customers, other than rebates, which are settled each period and therefore do not result in variable consideration. We do not have significant revenue recognized from performance obligations that were satisfied in prior periods, and we do not have any transaction price allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations other than in our deferred revenue. Certain judgments and estimates are used in the identification and timing of satisfaction of performance obligations and the related allocation of transaction price. We believe that these represent a faithful depiction of the transfer of services to our customers. Deferred revenue represents our contract liabilities related to our annual, original and other listings revenues as well as certain data services, clearing services and other revenues. Deferred revenue is our only significant contract asset or liability. See Note 9 for our discussion of deferred revenue balances, activity, and expected timing of recognition. We have elected not to provide disclosures about transaction price allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations if contract durations are less than one year, or if we are not required to estimate the transaction price. For all of our contracts with customers, except for listings and certain data and clearing services, our performance obligations are short term in nature and there is no significant variable consideration. In addition, we have elected the practical expedient of excluding sales taxes from transaction prices. We have assessed the costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract with a customer and determined them to be immaterial. See “Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements” below for the new revenue recognition accounting standard and its impact on our revenues. |
| Activity Assessment Fees and Section 31 Fees | Activity Assessment Fees and Section 31 Fees We pay the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, fees pursuant to Section 31 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for transactions executed on our U.S. equities and options exchanges. These Section 31 fees are designed to recover the costs to the government for supervising and regulating the securities markets and securities professionals. We (or the Options Clearing Corporation, or OCC, on our behalf), in turn, collect activity assessment fees, which are included in transaction and clearing fees in the accompanying consolidated statements of income, from member organizations clearing or settling trades on the U.S. equities and options exchanges and recognize these amounts as revenue when invoiced. Fees received are included in cash at the time of receipt and, as required by law, the amount due to the SEC is remitted semi-annually and recorded as an accrued liability until paid. The activity assessment fees are designed so that they are equal to the Section 31 fees paid by us to the SEC. As a result, Section 31 fees do not have an impact on our net income. |
| Stock-Based Compensation | Stock-Based Compensation We currently sponsor stock option plans, restricted stock plans and our Employee Stock Purchase Plan, or ESPP, to provide additional and incentive-based compensation to our employees and directors (Note 11). Stock options and restricted stock are granted at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. We measure and recognize compensation expense for share-based payment awards, including employee stock options, restricted stock and shares purchased under the ESPP based on estimated fair values on the date of grant. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as stock-based compensation expense over the requisite service period. We use the Black-Scholes pricing model to value stock option awards as well as shares purchased as part of our ESPP. The values estimated by the model are affected by the price of our stock as well as subjective variables that include assumed interest rates, our expected dividend yield, our expected share price volatility over the term of the awards and actual and projected employee stock option exercise behavior. Under our ESPP, employees may purchase shares of our common stock at a price equal to 85% of the lesser of the fair market value of the stock on the first or the last trading day of each offering period. We record compensation expenses related to the 15% |
| Treasury Stock | Treasury Stock We record treasury stock activities under the cost method whereby the cost of the acquired stock is recorded as treasury stock (Note 12). In the event it occurs in the future, our accounting policy upon the formal retirement of treasury stock is to deduct the par value from common stock and to reflect any excess of cost over par value as a deduction from additional paid-in capital (to the extent created by previous issuances of the shares) and retained earnings. |
| Credit Risk and Significant Customers | Credit Risk and Significant Customers Our clearing houses are exposed to credit risk as a result of maintaining clearing member cash deposits at various financial institutions (Note 14). Cash deposit accounts are established at large, highly-rated financial institutions and entered into so that they restrict the rights of offset or imposition of liens by the banks. We also limit our risk of loss by holding the majority of the cash deposits in cash accounts at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, high quality short-term sovereign debt reverse repurchase agreements with several different counterparty banks or direct investments in short-term high quality sovereign and supranational debt issues primarily with original maturities of less than three months. While we seek to achieve a reasonable rate of return which may generate interest income for our clearing members, we are primarily concerned with preservation of capital and managing the risks associated with these deposits. As the clearing houses may pass on interest revenues, minus costs, to the members, this could include negative or reduced yield due to market conditions. When engaging in reverse repurchase agreements, our clearing houses take delivery of the underlying securities in custody accounts under clearing house control. Additionally, the securities purchased have a market value greater than the reverse repurchase amount. The typical haircut received for high quality sovereign debt is 2% of the reverse repurchase amount. Thus, in the event that a reverse repurchase counterparty defaults on its obligation to repurchase the underlying reverse repurchase securities, our clearing house will have possession of securities with a value potentially greater than the reverse repurchase counterparty’s obligation to the clearing house. ICE Clear Credit, a systemically important financial market utility as designated by the Financial Stability Oversight Council, maintains a U.S. dollar account at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago as of December 31, 2019 . ICE Clear Europe maintains a euro-denominated account at the De Nederlandsche Bank, or DNB, the central bank of the Netherlands, as well as pounds sterling- and euro-denominated accounts at the Bank of England, or BOE, the central bank of the U.K. These accounts provide the flexibility for ICE Clear Europe to place euro- and pounds sterling-denominated cash margin securely at national banks, in particular during periods when liquidity in the euro and pounds sterling repo markets may temporarily become contracted. Such accounts are intended to decrease ICE Clear Credit and ICE Clear Europe’s custodial, liquidity and operational risk as compared to alternative custodial and investment arrangements. Our futures businesses have minimal credit risk as the majority of their transaction revenues are currently cleared through our clearing houses. Our accounts receivable related to market data revenues, cash trading, listing revenues, technology revenues, CDS transaction revenues and bilateral OTC energy transaction revenues subjects us to credit (collection) risk, as we do not require these customers to post collateral. We limit our risk of loss by terminating access to trade, remain listed or receive data for entities with delinquent accounts. The concentration of risk on accounts receivable is also mitigated by the large number of entities comprising our customer base. Our accounts receivable are stated at the billed amount. Excluding clearing members, there were no individual accounts receivable balances greater than 10% of total consolidated accounts receivable as of December 31, 2019 or December 31, 2018 . No single customer accounted for more than 10% of total consolidated revenues during 2019 , 2018 or 2017 . |
| Leases | Adoption of ASU 2016-02, Leases On January 1, 2019, we adopted ASU 2016-02, Leases , or ASU 2016-02. This standard requires recognition of both assets and liabilities arising from finance and operating leases, along with additional qualitative and quantitative disclosures. ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset representing a right to use the underlying asset over the lease term, and a corresponding lease liability on the balance sheet. Our operating leases primarily relate to our leased office space and data center facilities, and we do not have any leases classified as finance leases. We adopted ASU 2016-02 using the modified retrospective transition method and did not restate prior periods. Using the modified retrospective approach, we applied the provisions of ASU 2016-02 beginning in the period of adoption, and elected the package of practical expedients available to us. There was no impact to the opening balance of retained earnings as a result of a cumulative-effect adjustment on the adoption date. We elected the practical expedient to not reassess lease classifications, but alternatively to carry forward our historical classifications. In addition, we elected the practical expedient of not separating lease and non-lease components as our lease arrangements are not highly dependent on other underlying assets. Our implementation of the amended lease guidance was subject to the same internal controls over financial reporting that we apply to our consolidated financial statements. At lease inception, we review the service arrangement and components of a contract to identify if a lease or embedded lease arrangement exists. An indicator of a contract containing a lease is when we have the right to control and use an identified asset over a period of time in exchange for consideration. Operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term, using our estimated incremental borrowing rate. Upon adoption of ASU 2016-02, we made the policy election to not record existing or future leases with a term of 12 months or less on the balance sheet, and to recognize lease expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. For these leases, the impact on adoption was nominal. We have also made policy elections related to capitalization thresholds and discount rates. We have elected to use a portfolio approach in consideration of our incremental borrowing rate to our population of lease agreements. Upon adoption, our incremental borrowing rate was determined based on our recent debt issuances that we believe are reflective of current borrowing rates. Subsequent to adoption, current incremental borrowing rates were used. Certain lease agreements include options to extend, renew or terminate the lease agreement. As of December 31, 2019, the weighted-average remaining lease term was 6.7 years and the weighted average discount rate was 3.5% . Our lease agreements do not contain any residual value guarantees. Upon adoption of ASU 2016-02, we recorded $368 million in operating lease liabilities, of which $53 million is included in other current liabilities and $315 million is included in non-current operating lease liabilities within our accompanying consolidated balance sheet. We also recorded $317 million in operating lease right-of-use assets that are included as a component of property and equipment, net, in our balance sheet and are recorded in an amount equal to our lease liability, adjusted for any remaining unamortized lease incentives such as our deferred rent balances. As part of our adoption, we eliminated $51 million in deferred rent liabilities, of which $2 million had previously been included in other current liabilities and $49 million had been included in other non-current liabilities on our balance sheet. On the date of adoption, deferred rent liabilities were reclassified and presented as a reduction to the right-of-use asset, included in property and equipment, net, on our consolidated balance sheet. Our adoption did not have an impact on our consolidated income statement. We recognize rent expense monthly on a straight-line basis for each respective operating lease, as a reduction to the right-of-use asset. We recognized $41 million , $38 million and $39 million of rent expense for office space as rent and occupancy expense in 2019 , 2018 , and 2017 , respectively, and $21 million , $21 million and $19 million of rent expense for data center facilities as technology and communication expense in 2019 , 2018 , and 2017 , respectively, within our consolidated income statement. We do not have any significant variable lease costs related to building and maintenance costs, real estate taxes, or other charges. Details of our lease asset and liability balances are as follows (in millions): As of December 31, 2019 As of January 1, 2019 Right-of-use lease assets $287 $317 Current operating lease liability 53 53 Non-current operating lease liability 281 315 Total operating lease liability $334 $368 As of December 31, 2019, we estimate that our operating lease liability will be recognized in the following years (in millions): 2020 62 2021 65 2022 63 2023 45 2024 41 Thereafter 100 Lease liability amounts repayable 376 Interest costs 42 Total operating lease liability $ 334 Supplemental cash flow information and non-cash activity related to our operating leases are as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2019 Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liability $ 65 Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease obligations $ 389 Leases |
| Acquisition-Related Transaction and Integration Costs | Acquisition-Related Transaction and Integration Costs We incur incremental costs relating to our completed and potential acquisitions and other strategic opportunities. This includes fees for investment banking advisors, lawyers, accountants, tax advisors and public relations firms, as well as costs associated with credit facilities and other external costs directly related to the proposed or closed transactions. Acquisition-related transaction and integration costs were nominal in 2019. The acquisition-related transaction and integration costs incurred during 2018 primarily relate to employee termination and lease termination costs related to our Interactive Data acquisition, professional services costs resulting from our 2018 acquisitions and a $5 million banker success fee in connection with our acquisition of TMC Bonds. The acquisition-related transaction and integration costs incurred during 2017 primarily relate to costs incurred for our Interactive Data integration, legal and professional fees related to the review of Trayport by the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority, or the CMA, and various other costs incurred for our other acquisitions that closed during 2017. The integration of Interactive Data was completed by June 30, 2018. |
| Fair Value of Financial Instruments | Fair Value of Financial Instruments Fair value is the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Our financial instruments consist primarily of certain short-term and long-term assets and liabilities, customer accounts receivable, margin deposits and guaranty funds, equity investments, and short-term and long-term debt (Note 17). The fair value of our financial instruments is measured based on a three-level hierarchy: • Level 1 inputs — quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. • Level 2 inputs — observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs other than quoted prices that are directly observable. • Level 3 inputs — unobservable inputs supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. |
| Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments and Foreign Currency Transaction Gains and Losses | Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments and Foreign Currency Transaction Gains and Losses Our functional and reporting currency is the U.S. dollar. We have exposure to foreign currency translation gains and losses arising from our net investment in certain U.K., continental European, Asian and Canadian subsidiaries. The revenues, expenses and financial results of these subsidiaries are recorded in the functional currency of the countries that these subsidiaries are located in, which are primarily pounds sterling and euros. The financial statements of these subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars using a current rate of exchange, with gains or losses, net of tax as applicable, included in the cumulative translation adjustment account, a component of equity. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018 , the portion of our equity attributable to accumulated other comprehensive loss from foreign currency translation adjustments was $177 million and $227 million , respectively. We have foreign currency transaction gains and losses related to the settlement of foreign currency denominated assets, liabilities and payables that occur through our operations. These transaction gains and losses are due to the increase or decrease in the foreign currency exchange rates between periods. Forward contracts on foreign currencies are entered into to manage the foreign currency exchange rate risk. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in other income (expense) in the accompanying consolidated statements of income and resulted in net losses of $5 million , $2 million and $4 million in 2019 , 2018 and 2017 |
| Earnings Per Common Share | Earnings Per Common Share Basic earnings per common share is calculated using the weighted average common shares outstanding during the year. Common equivalent shares from stock options and restricted stock awards, using the treasury stock method, are included in the diluted per share calculations unless the effect of inclusion would be antidilutive (Note 19). |
| Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements and Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted | Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements Standard/Description Effective Date and Adoption Considerations Effect on Financial Statements ASU No. 2016-02, Leases, requires entities to recognize both assets and liabilities arising from finance and operating leases, along with additional qualitative and quantitative disclosures. Adopted on January 1, 2019. Further disclosures and details on our adoption are discussed below. ASU 2018-07, Compensation–Stock Compensation (Topic 718) - Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting , or ASU 2018-07 aligns the accounting for share-based payment awards issued to employees and nonemployees. Under this new guidance, the existing employee guidance will now apply to nonemployee share-based transactions. Effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Adopted on January 1, 2019. This guidance will be applied to all new awards granted after the date of adoption, and adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or related disclosures. ASU 2018-14, Compensation-Retirement Benefits-Defined Benefit Plans — General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans , or ASU 2018-14 was issued in August 2018 and removes certain disclosures that are not considered cost beneficial, clarifies certain required disclosures and adds additional disclosures. Effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 with early adoption permitted. We elected early adoption and adopted on December 31, 2019. The amendments in ASU 2018-14 are required to be applied retrospectively. Upon adoption we eliminated certain disclosure requirements related to our defined benefit plans that were previously disclosed in Note 16. Certain other disclosure requirements described in Subtopic 715-20 were not applicable to us. Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers , and ASC 340-40, Other Assets and Deferred Costs - Contracts with Customers , collectively referred to as ASC 606. Adopted retrospectively on January 1, 2018 and restated each prior period presented. Further disclosures and details on our adoption are discussed below. Standard/Description Effective Date and Adoption Considerations Effect on Financial Statements ASU No. 2017-07, Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost requires that an employer disaggregate the service cost component from the other components of net benefit cost. The amendments also provide explicit guidance on how to present the service cost component in the same line item as other related compensation costs, and the other components of net benefit cost in the income statement outside of operating income. The guidance only allows the service cost component of net benefit cost to be eligible for capitalization. Adopted on January 1, 2018 and applied retrospectively to each prior period presented We have a pension plan, a U.S. nonqualified supplemental executive retirement plan, and post-retirement defined benefit plans that are all impacted by the guidance. Each of these plans are frozen and do not have a service cost component, which means the expense or benefit recognized under each plan represents other components of net benefit cost as defined in the guidance. The combined net periodic (expense) benefit of these plans was ($8 million) and $9 million in 2018 and 2017, respectively, and was previously reported as an adjustment to compensation and benefits expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. Following our adoption, these amounts were reclassified to be included in other income, net, and these adjustments had no impact on net income. ASU No. 2016-01, which provides updated guidance for the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of certain financial assets and liabilities, including the requirement that equity investments (except (i) those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or (ii) those that result in consolidation of the investee) are to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. See "Investments" section above for additional detail. Adopted on January 1, 2018. Our adoption did not result in any fair value adjustments on the date of adoption. In December 2017, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, or SAB 118, which provided guidance for companies that have not completed their accounting for the income tax effects of the TCJA. In the period of enactment of the TCJA, allowing for a measurement period of up to one year after the enactment date to finalize the recording of the related tax impacts. As of December 31, 2018, we completed our accounting for the tax effects of the enactment of the TCJA. As of December 31, 2018, we reaffirmed our position that we were not subject to transition tax under the TCJA. In addition, we concluded that the $764 million deferred tax benefit recorded as of December 31, 2017 was a reasonable estimate of the TCJA impact on our deferred tax. In January 2018, the FASB staff issued Question & Answer Topic 740, No. 5, Accounting for Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income , stating that a company may either elect to treat taxes due on future inclusions of its non-U.S. income in its U.S. taxable income under the newly enacted Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income provisions as a current period expense when incurred, or factor them into the company’s measurement of its deferred taxes. In 2018, we completed our analysis of the two different accounting policies. As of December 31, 2018, we made a policy election to recognize such tax as a current period expense when incurred. Standard/Description Effective Date and Adoption Considerations Effect on Financial Statements ASU No. 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulative Other Comprehensive Income , or ASU 2018-02, gave entities the option to reclassify to retained earnings certain tax effects related to items in accumulated other comprehensive income, or OCI, that have been stranded in OCI as a result of the enactment of the TCJA. Effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 with early adoption permitted. We elected early adoption and adopted in the fourth quarter of 2018. The impact of our adoption was a balance sheet reclassification from OCI to retained earnings of $26 million, which was reflected in our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2018. In connection with our adoption, we made a policy election to use a portfolio approach with respect to pension, postretirement benefit plan obligations and currency translation matters when we determine the timing and extent to which stranded income tax effects from items that were previously recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income are released. ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows: Restricted Cash , or ASU 2016-18, required us to show the changes in the total of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. Adopted in the fourth quarter of 2017. We no longer present transfers between cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. We reclassified changes in restricted cash from cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities, to the total change in beginning and end-of-period balances. Our statements of cash flows for 2019, 2018 and 2017 reflect this change. Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted in These Financial Statements Standard/Description Effective Date and Adoption Considerations Effect on Financial Statements ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments applies to all financial instruments carried at amortized cost including held-to-maturity debt securities and trade receivables. Requires financial assets carried at amortized cost to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected and requires entities to record credit losses through an allowance for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities. We adopted on January 1, 2020. Our adoption was subject to the same internal controls over financial reporting that we apply to our consolidated financial statements. We have evaluated this guidance to determine the impact on our consolidated financial statements. Based on our assessment, we concluded the impact of adoption of this guidance not to be material. |
