Investments in Securities (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

Trading Securities, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Trading Securities

Trading securities are recorded at fair value with subsequent changes in fair value recorded as “Fair value losses, net” in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

Available-for-sale Securities, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Other-Than-Temporary Impairment of Debt Securities

We evaluate AFS securities for other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) on a quarterly basis. OTTI is considered to have occurred when the fair value of a debt security is below its amortized cost basis and we intend to sell or it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery. In such cases, we recognize in “Investment gains, net” in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income the entire difference between the amortized cost basis of the security and its fair value. OTTI is also considered to have occurred if we do not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of a debt security even if we do not intend to sell the security or it is not more likely than not we will be required to sell the security before recovery. We separate the difference between the amortized cost basis of the security and its fair value into the amount representing the credit loss, which we recognize in “Investment gains, net” in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, and the amount related to all other factors, which we recognize in “Other comprehensive income (loss),” net of taxes.

We consider guarantees, insurance contracts or other credit enhancements (such as collateral) in determining our best estimate of cash flows expected to be collected only if (1) such guarantees, insurance contracts or other credit enhancements provide for payments to be made solely to reimburse us for failure of the issuer to satisfy its required payment obligations; (2) such guarantees, insurance contracts or other credit enhancements are contractually attached to the security; and (3) collection of the amounts receivable under these agreements is deemed probable. Guarantees, insurance contracts or other credit enhancements are considered contractually attached if they are part of and trade with the security upon transfer of the security to a third party.

In periods after we recognize OTTI of debt securities, we use the prospective interest method to recognize interest income. Under the prospective interest method, we calculate a new effective yield for subsequent recognition of interest income and measurement of impairment when we determine that there has been a significant increase in expected or actual cash flows. We consider a significant increase in cash flows to be at least a 10% increase over two consecutive quarters of the expected or actual cash flows. We calculate the new effective yield by using the new cost basis and the significantly increased actual or expected cash flows.

Available-for-Sale Securities

We record AFS securities at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, recorded net of tax, as a component of “Other comprehensive income (loss)” and we recognize realized gains and losses from the sale of AFS securities in “Investment gains, net” in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

Other-Than-Temporary Impairments

For AFS securities, OTTI is considered to have occurred when the fair value of a debt security is below its amortized cost basis and we intend to sell or it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery. Additionally, OTTI is considered to have occurred if we do not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of a debt security even if we do not intend to sell the security or it is not more likely than not we will be required to sell the security before recovery.