Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

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In the normal course of business, our financial position is routinely subject to a variety of risks, including market risks associated with interest rate and foreign currency movements on outstanding debt and non-U.S. dollar denominated assets and liabilities and commodity price movements. We utilize established risk management policies and procedures in executing derivative financial instrument transactions to manage a portion of these risks.

We do not execute transactions or hold derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Substantially all counterparties to derivative financial instruments are limited to major financial institutions with at least an A/A2 credit rating. There is no significant concentration of exposures with any one counterparty.

**Foreign Currency Exposures **

As part of managing the exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, we utilize cross-currency swap contracts, foreign currency forward contracts, and foreign currency swap contracts, a portion of which are designated as cash flow hedges. The objective of these contracts is to minimize impacts to cash flows and profitability due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on intercompany and other cash transactions. A 10% appreciation or depreciation of the underlying currency in our cross-currency swap contracts, foreign currency forward contracts, or foreign currency swap contracts from the fiscal year end 2017 market rates would have changed the unrealized value of our contracts by $122 million. A 10% appreciation or depreciation of the underlying currency in our cross-currency swap contracts, foreign currency forward contracts, or foreign currency swap contracts from the fiscal year end 2016 market rates would have changed the unrealized value of our contracts by $112 million. Such gains or losses on these contracts would generally be offset by the losses or gains on the revaluation or settlement of the underlying transactions.

**Interest Rate and Investment Exposures **

We issue debt, as needed, to fund our operations and capital requirements. Such borrowings can result in interest rate exposure. To manage the interest rate exposure, we use interest rate swaps to convert a portion of fixed-rate debt into variable-rate debt. We use forward starting interest rate swaps and options to enter into interest rate swaps to manage interest rate exposure in periods prior to the anticipated issuance of fixed-rate debt. We also utilize investment swaps to manage earnings exposure on certain nonqualified deferred compensation liabilities.

Based on our floating rate debt balances at fiscal year end 2017 and 2016, an increase in the levels of the U.S. dollar interest rates by 0.5%, with all other variables held constant, would have resulted in an immaterial increase in interest expense in both fiscal 2017 and 2016.

**Commodity Exposures **

Our worldwide operations and product lines may expose us to risks from fluctuations in commodity prices. To limit the effects of fluctuations in the future market price paid and related volatility in cash flows, we utilize commodity swap contracts designated as cash flow hedges. We continually evaluate the commodity market with respect to our forecasted usage requirements over the next eighteen months and periodically enter into commodity swap contracts to hedge a portion of usage requirements over that period. At fiscal year end 2017, our commodity hedges, which related to expected purchases of gold, silver, and copper, were in a net gain position of $20 million and had a notional value of $314 million. At fiscal year end 2016, our commodity hedges, which related to expected purchases of gold, silver, and copper, were in a net gain position of $11 million and had a notional value of $232 million. A 10% appreciation or depreciation of the price of a troy ounce of gold, a troy ounce of silver, and a pound of copper, from the fiscal year end 2017 prices would have changed the unrealized

value of our forward contracts by $33 million. A 10% appreciation or depreciation of the price of a troy ounce of gold, a troy ounce of silver, and a pound of copper, from the fiscal year end 2016 prices would have changed the unrealized value of our forward contracts by $24 million.

See Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding financial instruments.