Financial statements 2008

36. Derivative financial instruments

36. Derivative financial instruments

36. Derivative financial instruments
  Contract of underlying principal amount Assets Liabilities
In CHF'000 31.12.2008 31.12.2007 31.12.2008 31.12.2007 31.12.2008 31.12.2007
Currency related instruments:            
- forward foreign exchange contracts - 1 582 - 23 - -
- over the counter currency options 16 050 28 250 681 - 66 357
- cross currency swaps - 17 445 - 523 - 2
- currency Target redemption notes ("TaRN") 5 350 - - - 2 456 -
             
Total of currency related instruments 21 400 47 277 681 546 2 522 359

Short-term derivatives on currencies are entered into to cover exposure in foreign currencies. In 2008 and 2007, they did not qualify for hedge accounting purposes and are classified as held-for-trading. The contractual maturity date of all these derivative instruments is less than one year and the undiscounted planned cash inflow and outflow are kCHF 36 555 and kCHF 37 450 respectively (2007: kCHF 30 235 and kCHF 29 832) .