Note 19 - Financial instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Notes to Financial Statements

Financial Instruments Disclosure [Text Block]

19. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Information on the Company’s financial instruments was as follows:

(In Thousands)

	December 31
	2016				2015
	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	31,332	$	31,332	$	41,199	$	41,199
Restricted cash		32		32		31		31
Short-term investments		21,532		21,532		11,233		11,233

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments reported in the consolidated balance sheets approximate their estimated fair values.

Long-term investments are in privately-held companies where there is no readily determinable market value and are recorded using the cost method. Since they entail an unreasonable high cost to obtain verifiable fair values, fair value is not presented. The Company periodically evaluates these investments for impairment. If it is determined that an other-than-temporary decline has occurred in the carrying value, an impairment loss is recorded in the period of decline in value.