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Morgan Stanley – ‘10-Q’ for 3/31/21 – ‘EX-101.DEF’

On:  Monday, 5/3/21, at 4:09pm ET   ·   For:  3/31/21   ·   Accession #:  895421-21-334   ·   File #:  1-11758

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  As Of               Filer                 Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size

 5/03/21  Morgan Stanley                    10-Q        3/31/21  148:35M

Quarterly Report   —   Form 10-Q
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: 10-Q        Quarterly Report                                    HTML   3.69M 
 2: EX-3.1      Articles of Incorporation/Organization or Bylaws    HTML   1.08M 
 3: EX-15       Letter re: Unaudited Interim Financial Info         HTML     49K 
 4: EX-31.1     Certification -- §302 - SOA'02                      HTML     45K 
 5: EX-31.2     Certification -- §302 - SOA'02                      HTML     45K 
 6: EX-32.1     Certification -- §906 - SOA'02                      HTML     42K 
 7: EX-32.2     Certification -- §906 - SOA'02                      HTML     42K 
14: R1          Cover Page                                          HTML    118K 
15: R2          Consolidated Income Statements (Unaudited)          HTML    144K 
16: R3          Consolidated Comprehensive Income Statements        HTML     78K 
                (Unaudited)                                                      
17: R4          Consolidated Balance Sheets                         HTML    141K 
18: R5          Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)         HTML     72K 
19: R6          Consolidated Statements of Changes in Total Equity  HTML     97K 
                (Unaudited)                                                      
20: R7          Consolidated Cash Flow Statements (Unaudited)       HTML    135K 
21: R8          Introduction and Basis of Presentation              HTML     52K 
22: R9          Significant Accounting Policies                     HTML     44K 
23: R10         Acquisitions                                        HTML     68K 
24: R11         Cash and Cash Equivalents                           HTML     50K 
25: R12         Fair Values                                         HTML    654K 
26: R13         Fair Value Option                                   HTML     90K 
27: R14         Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities       HTML    426K 
28: R15         Investment Securities                               HTML    256K 
29: R16         Collateralized Transactions                         HTML    151K 
30: R17         Loans, Lending Commitments and Related Allowance    HTML    363K 
                for Credit Losses                                                
31: R18         Other Assets - Equity Method Investments            HTML     53K 
32: R19         Deposits                                            HTML     57K 
33: R20         Borrowings and Other Secured Financings             HTML     60K 
34: R21         Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies           HTML    127K 
35: R22         Variable Interest Entities and Securitization       HTML    251K 
                Activities                                                       
36: R23         Regulatory Requirements                             HTML    151K 
37: R24         Total Equity                                        HTML    216K 
38: R25         Interest Income and Interest Expense                HTML     67K 
39: R26         Income Taxes                                        HTML     46K 
40: R27         Segment, Geographic and Revenue Information         HTML    216K 
41: R28         Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)          HTML     50K 
42: R29         Acquisitions (Tables)                               HTML     70K 
43: R30         Cash and Cash Equivalents (Tables)                  HTML     48K 
44: R31         Fair Values (Tables)                                HTML    846K 
45: R32         Fair Value Option (Tables)                          HTML     84K 
46: R33         Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities       HTML    438K 
                (Tables)                                                         
47: R34         Investment Securities (Tables)                      HTML    259K 
48: R35         Collateralized Transactions (Tables)                HTML    158K 
49: R36         Loans, Lending Commitments and Related Allowance    HTML    364K 
                for Credit Losses (Tables)                                       
50: R37         Other Assets - Equity Method Investments (Tables)   HTML     54K 
51: R38         Deposits (Tables)                                   HTML     58K 
52: R39         Borrowings and Other Secured Financings (Tables)    HTML     60K 
53: R40         Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies (Tables)  HTML    106K 
54: R41         Variable Interest Entities and Securitization       HTML    257K 
                Activities (Tables)                                              
55: R42         Regulatory Requirements (Tables)                    HTML    149K 
56: R43         Total Equity (Tables)                               HTML    257K 
57: R44         Interest Income and Interest Expense (Tables)       HTML     67K 
58: R45         Segment, Geographic and Revenue Information         HTML    222K 
                (Tables)                                                         
59: R46         Acquisitions - Narrative (Details)                  HTML     60K 
60: R47         Acquisitions - Purchase Price Allocation (Details)  HTML     75K 
61: R48         Acquisitions - Acquired Intangible Assets           HTML     60K 
                (Details)                                                        
62: R49         Acquisitions - Proforma Combined Financial          HTML     47K 
                Information (Details)                                            
63: R50         Cash and Cash Equivalents - Summary (Details)       HTML     52K 
64: R51         Fair Values - Assets and Liabilities Measured at    HTML    221K 
                Fair Value on a Recurring Basis (Details)                        
65: R52         Fair Values - Detail of Loans and Lending           HTML     57K 
                Commitments at Fair Value (Details)                              
66: R53         Fair Values - Detail of Unsettled Fair Value of     HTML     46K 
                Futures Contracts (Details)                                      
67: R54         Fair Values - Activity of Level 3 Assets and        HTML    172K 
                Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring                
                Basis (Details)                                                  
68: R55         Fair Values - Valuation Techniques and Sensitivity  HTML    351K 
                of Unobservable Inputs Used in Level 3 Fair Value                
                Measurements (Details)                                           
69: R56         Fair Values - Fund Interests Measured Based on Net  HTML     64K 
                Asset Value (Details)                                            
70: R57         Fair Values - Assets and Liabilities Measured at    HTML     88K 
                Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis (Details)                     
71: R58         Fair Values - Financial Instruments Not Measured    HTML    112K 
                at Fair Value (Details)                                          
72: R59         Fair Value Option - Borrowings Measured at Fair     HTML     56K 
                Value on a Recurring Basis (Details)                             
73: R60         Fair Value Option - Net Revenues from Borrowings    HTML     48K 
                under the Fair Value Option (Details)                            
74: R61         Fair Value Option - Gains (Losses) Due to Changes   HTML     60K 
                in Instrument-Specific Credit Risk (Details)                     
75: R62         Fair Value Option - Difference Between Contractual  HTML     47K 
                Principal and Fair Value (Details)                               
76: R63         Fair Value Option - Fair Value Loans on Nonaccrual  HTML     45K 
                Status (Details)                                                 
77: R64         Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities -     HTML    189K 
                Fair Values of Derivative Contracts (Details)                    
78: R65         Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities -     HTML    119K 
                Notionals of Derivative Contracts (Details)                      
79: R66         Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities -     HTML     81K 
                Gains (Losses) on Accounting Hedges and Fair Value               
                Hedges (Details)                                                 
80: R67         Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities -     HTML     45K 
                Economic Loan Hedges (Details)                                   
81: R68         Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities -     HTML     45K 
                Net Derivative Liabilities and Collateral Posted                 
                (Details)                                                        
82: R69         Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities -     HTML     49K 
                Incremental Collateral and Termination Payments                  
                upon Potential Future Ratings Downgrade (Details)                
83: R70         Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities -     HTML    103K 
                Maximum Potential Payout/Notional of Credit                      
                Protection Sold (Details)                                        
84: R71         Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities -     HTML     59K 
                Fair Value Asset/(Liability) of Credit Protection                
                Sold (Details)                                                   
85: R72         Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities -     HTML     55K 
                Protection Purchased with CDS (Details)                          
86: R73         Investment Securities - AFS and HTM Securities      HTML    107K 
                (Details)                                                        
87: R74         Investment Securities - Investment Securities in    HTML     82K 
                an Unrealized Loss Position (Details)                            
88: R75         Investment Securities - Narrative (Details)         HTML     45K 
89: R76         Investment Securities - Investment Securities by    HTML    192K 
                Contractual Maturity (Details)                                   
90: R77         Investment Securities - Gross Realized Gains        HTML     47K 
                (Losses) on Sales of AFS Securities (Details)                    
91: R78         Collateralized Transactions - Offsetting of         HTML    110K 
                Certain Collateralized Transactions (Details)                    
92: R79         Collateralized Transactions - Gross Secured         HTML     79K 
                Financing Balances (Details)                                     
93: R80         Collateralized Transactions - Assets Loaned or      HTML     43K 
                Pledged (Details)                                                
94: R81         Collateralized Transactions - Collateral Received   HTML     45K 
                (Details)                                                        
95: R82         Collateralized Transactions - Securities            HTML     42K 
                Segregated for Regulatory Purposes (Details)                     
96: R83         Collateralized Transactions - Customer Margin       HTML     42K 
                Lending (Details)                                                
97: R84         Loans, Lending Commitments and Related Allowance    HTML     92K 
                for Credit Losses - Loans by Type (Details)                      
98: R85         Loans, Lending Commitments and Related Allowance    HTML    139K 
                for Credit Losses - Loans Held for Investment                    
                before Allowance by Origination Year (Details)                   
99: R86         Loans, Lending Commitments and Related Allowance    HTML     52K 
                for Credit Losses - Past Due Loans Held for                      
                Investment before Allowance (Details)                            
100: R87         Loans, Lending Commitments and Related Allowance    HTML     54K  
                for Credit Losses - Nonaccrual Loans Held for                    
                Investment before Allowance (Details)                            
101: R88         Loans, Lending Commitments and Related Allowance    HTML     46K  
                for Credit Losses - Troubled Debt Restructurings                 
                (Details)                                                        
102: R89         Loans, Lending Commitments and Related Allowance    HTML     94K  
                for Credit Losses - Allowance for Credit Losses                  
                Rollforward - Loans and Lending Commitments                      
                (Details)                                                        
103: R90         Loans, Lending Commitments and Related Allowance    HTML     62K  
                for Credit Losses - Employee Loans (Details)                     
104: R91         Other Assets - Equity Method Investments -          HTML     48K  
                Balances (Details)                                               
105: R92         Other Assets - Equity Method Investments - Joint    HTML     46K  
                Ventures (Details)                                               
106: R93         Deposits - Summary (Details)                        HTML     50K  
107: R94         Deposits - Time Deposit Maturities (Details)        HTML     55K  
108: R95         Borrowings and Other Secured Financings -           HTML     56K  
                Borrowings (Details)                                             
109: R96         Borrowings and Other Secured Financings - Other     HTML     48K  
                Secured Financings (Details)                                     
110: R97         Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies -         HTML     83K  
                Commitments (Details)                                            
111: R98         Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies -         HTML    102K  
                Obligations under Guarantee Arrangements (Details)               
112: R99         Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies -         HTML     61K  
                Narrative (Details)                                              
113: R100        Variable Interest Entities and Securitization       HTML     60K  
                Activities - Assets and Liabilities by Type of                   
                Activity (Details)                                               
114: R101        Variable Interest Entities and Securitization       HTML     74K  
                Activities - Assets and Liabilities by Balance                   
                Sheet Caption (Details)                                          
115: R102        Variable Interest Entities and Securitization       HTML    114K  
                Activities - Non-Consolidated VIEs (Details)                     
116: R103        Variable Interest Entities and Securitization       HTML     65K  
                Activities - Mortgage and Asset Backed                           
                Securitization Assets (Details)                                  
117: R104        Variable Interest Entities and Securitization       HTML     84K  
                Activities - Transferred Assets with Continuing                  
                Involvement (Details)                                            
118: R105        Variable Interest Entities and Securitization       HTML     69K  
                Activities - Fair Value of Transfers of Assets                   
                with Continuing Involvement (Details)                            
119: R106        Variable Interest Entities and Securitization       HTML     51K  
                Activities - Proceeds from New Securitization                    
                Transactions and Sales of Loans (Details)                        
120: R107        Variable Interest Entities and Securitization       HTML     56K  
                Activities - Assets Sold with Retained Exposure                  
                (Details)                                                        
121: R108        Regulatory Requirements - Risk-Based Regulatory     HTML     88K  
                Capital Ratio Requirements (Details)                             
122: R109        Regulatory Requirements - The Firm's Regulatory     HTML     77K  
                Capital and Capital Ratios (Details)                             
123: R110        Regulatory Requirements - U.S. Bank Subsidiaries'   HTML    104K  
                Regulatory Capital and Capital Ratios (Details)                  
124: R111        Regulatory Requirements - U.S. Broker-Dealer        HTML     46K  
                Regulatory Capital Requirements (Details)                        
125: R112        Total Equity - Preferred Stock Outstanding          HTML     80K  
                (Details)                                                        
126: R113        Total Equity - Narrative (Details)                  HTML     46K  
127: R114        Total Equity - Common Stock Repurchases (Details)   HTML     43K  
128: R115        Total Equity - Common Shares Outstanding for Basic  HTML     50K  
                and Diluted EPS (Details)                                        
129: R116        Total Equity - Dividends (Details)                  HTML     76K  
130: R117        Total Equity - Accumulated Other Comprehensive      HTML     69K  
                Income (Loss) (Details)                                          
131: R118        Total Equity - Components of Period Changes in OCI  HTML    119K  
                (Details)                                                        
132: R119        Interest Income and Interest Expense - Summary      HTML     68K  
                (Details)                                                        
133: R120        Interest Income and Interest Expense - Accrued      HTML     45K  
                Interest (Details)                                               
134: R121        Segment, Geographic and Revenue Information -       HTML    139K  
                Selected Financial Information by Business Segment               
                (Details)                                                        
135: R122        Segment, Geographic and Revenue Information -       HTML     53K  
                Institutional Securities - Investment Banking                    
                Revenues (Details)                                               
136: R123        Segment, Geographic and Revenue Information -       HTML     54K  
                Trading Revenues by Product Type (Details)                       
137: R124        Segment, Geographic and Revenue Information -       HTML     42K  
                Investment Management Investments Revenues - Net                 
                Unrealized Carried Interest (Details)                            
138: R125        Segment, Geographic and Revenue Information -       HTML     42K  
                Investment Management Asset Management Revenues -                
                Reduction of Fees due to Fee Waivers (Details)                   
139: R126        Segment, Geographic and Revenue Information -       HTML     42K  
                Other Expenses - Transaction Taxes (Details)                     
140: R127        Segment, Geographic and Revenue Information - Net   HTML     51K  
                Revenues by Region (Details)                                     
141: R128        Segment, Geographic and Revenue Information -       HTML     42K  
                Revenue Recognized from Prior Services (Details)                 
142: R129        Segment, Geographic and Revenue Information -       HTML     43K  
                Receivables from Contracts with Customers                        
                (Details)                                                        
143: R130        Segment, Geographic and Revenue Information -       HTML     52K  
                Assets by Business Segment (Details)                             
144: R9999       Uncategorized Items - ms-20210331.htm               HTML     50K  
146: XML         IDEA XML File -- Filing Summary                      XML    289K  
13: XML         XBRL Instance -- ms-20210331_htm                     XML  12.32M 
145: EXCEL       IDEA Workbook of Financial Reports                  XLSX    231K  
 9: EX-101.CAL  XBRL Calculations -- ms-20210331_cal                 XML    469K 
10: EX-101.DEF  XBRL Definitions -- ms-20210331_def                  XML   1.82M 
11: EX-101.LAB  XBRL Labels -- ms-20210331_lab                       XML   3.45M 
12: EX-101.PRE  XBRL Presentations -- ms-20210331_pre                XML   2.35M 
 8: EX-101.SCH  XBRL Schema -- ms-20210331                           XSD    413K 
147: JSON        XBRL Instance as JSON Data -- MetaLinks              730±  1.17M  
148: ZIP         XBRL Zipped Folder -- 0000895421-21-000334-xbrl      Zip   1.33M  


‘EX-101.DEF’   —   XBRL Definitions — ms-20210331_def


This Exhibit is an XBRL XML File.


                                                                                                                                                                                
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