RETIREMENT PLANS AND POST RETIREMENT PENSION PLANS (Tables)
 3 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015
Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans Disclosure [Abstract]  
Fair value of plan assets and benefit obligation transferred to Keysight
In connection with the separation of Keysight on November 1, 2014, Agilent transferred certain liabilities and assets of the U.S. and Non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans, and U.S. Post-Retirement Benefit Plans to similar plans created for Keysight employees as follows:

 
U.S. Defined
Benefit Plans
 
Non-U.S. Defined
Benefit Plans
 
U.S. Post-Retirement
Benefit Plans
 
(in millions)
Fair value of plan assets transferred to Keysight
$
491

 
$
1,318

 
$
187

Benefit obligation transferred to Keysight
$
514

 
$
1,429

 
$
206
Schedule of net pension and post-retirement benefit costs
Components of net periodic costs. For the three months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014, our net pension and post retirement benefit costs were comprised of the following:
 
 
Pensions
 
 
 
U.S. Plans
 
Non-U.S.
Plans
 
U.S. Post Retirement
Benefit Plans
 
Three Months Ended January 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
(in millions)
Service cost—benefits earned during the period
$
6

 
$
12

 
$
4

 
$
9

 
$
1

 
$
1

Interest cost on benefit obligation
4

 
8

 
6

 
18

 
1

 
3

Expected return on plan assets
(7
)
 
(16
)
 
(11
)
 
(29
)
 
(2
)
 
(5
)
Amortization:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Actuarial losses
1

 
—

 
7

 
11

 
1

 
3

Prior service cost
(1
)
 
(3
)
 
—

 
—

 
(3
)
 
(9
)
Total net plan costs
$
3

 
$
1

 
$
6

 
$
9

 
$
(2
)
 
$
(7
)
Summary of net plan costs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
3

 
—

 
6

 
6

 
(2
)
 
(4
)
Discontinued operations
—

 
1

 
—

 
3

 
—

 
(3
)
Total net plan costs
$
3

 
$
1

 
$
6

 
$
9

 
$
(2
)
 
$
(7
)