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Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements | 6 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2016
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] |
Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements | K. Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements The FASB authoritative guidance on fair value measurements defines fair value, provides a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and requires certain disclosures about fair value measurements. The disclosures focus on the inputs used to measure fair value. The guidance establishes the following hierarchy for categorizing these inputs:
Level 1 |  | — |  | Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
Level 2 |  | — |  | Significant other observable inputs (e.g., quoted prices for similar items in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar items in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rate and yield curves, and market-corroborated inputs)
Level 3 |  | — |  | Significant unobservable inputs
There were no transfers of financial assets or liabilities measured at fair value between Level 1 and Level 2 and there were no Level 3 investments during the first six months of either fiscal 2016 or 2015. At both March 31, 2016 and September 30, 2015, the fair value of Guaranteed investment contracts, included in Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, was $12 million. Guaranteed investment contracts were classified as Level 2 instruments within the fair value hierarchy as the fair value determination was based on other observable inputs. At March 31, 2016 and September 30, 2015, the fair values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts and notes receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and notes payable and variable rate debt approximated their carrying values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The carrying value and fair value of the long-term fixed rate debt were $0.96 billion and $1.01 billion, respectively, as of March 31, 2016 and $0.96 billion and $1.02 billion, respectively, as of September 30, 2015. The fair values of Cabot’s fixed rate long-term debt and capital lease obligations are estimated based on comparable quoted market prices at the respective period ends. The carrying amounts of Cabot’s floating rate long-term debt and capital lease obligations approximate their fair values. All such measurements are based on observable inputs and are classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. The valuation technique used is the discounted cash flow model.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for financial instruments. This disclosure includes, but is not limited to, fair value measurements of short and long term marketable securities, international currencies forward contracts, and auction rate securities. Financial instruments may include hedging and non-hedging currency exchange instruments, derivatives, securitizations and securities available for sale at fair value. Also included are investment results, realized and unrealized gains and losses as well as impairments and risk management disclosures. + References No definition available. + Details
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