FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Total gain or losses (for the period)
Transfers from Level 1 into Level 2	$ 0	$ 0
Transfers from Level 2 into Level 1	0	0
Securities Available-For-Sale: Corporate Debt Securities
Reconciliation of assets measured on Level 3 basis
Balance at the beginning of the period	42,221	67,233
Total gain or losses (for the period)
Included in earnings	(117)	550
Included in other comprehensive income	90	4,051
Settlements	(111)	(328)
Balance at the end of the period	42,083	71,506
Change in unrealized gains or losses for the period included in earnings for assets held at the end of the reporting period	(117)	550
Other Securities, at Estimated Fair Value
Reconciliation of assets measured on Level 3 basis
Balance at the beginning of the period	2,909	2,778
Total gain or losses (for the period)
Included in earnings	328	(57)
Balance at the end of the period	3,237	2,721
Change in unrealized gains or losses for the period included in earnings for assets held at the end of the reporting period	328	(57)
Residential mortgage-backed securities, at estimated fair value
Reconciliation of assets measured on Level 3 basis
Balance at the beginning of the period	83,842	86,479
Total gain or losses (for the period)
Included in earnings	5,721	2,436
Settlements	(2,535)	(1,552)
Balance at the end of the period	87,028	87,363
Change in unrealized gains or losses for the period included in earnings for assets held at the end of the reporting period	12,088	7,798
Corporate Loans, at Estimated Fair Value
Reconciliation of assets measured on Level 3 basis
Balance at the beginning of the period	16,141
Total gain or losses (for the period)
Included in earnings	(1,426)	1,314
Purchases	3,073	8,615
Settlements	(463)
Balance at the end of the period	17,325	9,929
Change in unrealized gains or losses for the period included in earnings for assets held at the end of the reporting period	(1,722)	1,314
Equity investments, at estimated fair value
Reconciliation of assets measured on Level 3 basis
Balance at the beginning of the period	97,746	150,962
Total gain or losses (for the period)
Included in earnings	4,516	2,388
Purchases		6,151
Balance at the end of the period	102,262	159,501
Change in unrealized gains or losses for the period included in earnings for assets held at the end of the reporting period	4,516	2,388
Total rate of return swaps
Reconciliation of assets measured on Level 3 basis
Balance at the beginning of the period		152
Total gain or losses (for the period)
Included in earnings		141
Balance at the end of the period		293
Change in unrealized gains or losses for the period included in earnings for assets held at the end of the reporting period		141
Common stock warrants
Reconciliation of assets measured on Level 3 basis
Balance at the beginning of the period	1,574	1,266
Total gain or losses (for the period)
Included in earnings	245	285
Balance at the end of the period	1,819	1,551
Change in unrealized gains or losses for the period included in earnings for assets held at the end of the reporting period	245	285
Foreign exchange options
Reconciliation of assets measured on Level 3 basis
Balance at the beginning of the period	8,277	13,394
Total gain or losses (for the period)
Included in earnings	(2,927)	(1,240)
Balance at the end of the period	5,350	12,154
Change in unrealized gains or losses for the period included in earnings for assets held at the end of the reporting period	(2,927)	(1,240)
Other assets
Reconciliation of assets measured on Level 3 basis
Balance at the beginning of the period		567
Total gain or losses (for the period)
Included in earnings		109
Balance at the end of the period		676
Change in unrealized gains or losses for the period included in earnings for assets held at the end of the reporting period		109
Interests in joint ventures and partnerships
Reconciliation of assets measured on Level 3 basis
Balance at the beginning of the period	142,477
Total gain or losses (for the period)
Included in earnings	6,679
Purchases	22,812
Settlements	(2,037)
Balance at the end of the period	169,931
Change in unrealized gains or losses for the period included in earnings for assets held at the end of the reporting period	$ 6,679