INVESTMENTS IN MARKETABLE SECURITIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

Investments in Debt and Marketable Equity Securities (and Certain Trading Assets) Disclosure [Text Block]

3.       INVESTMENTS IN MARKETABLE SECURITIES

Investments in marketable securities consist primarily of large capital corporate equity and debt securities in varying industries or issued by government agencies with readily determinable fair values. These securities are stated at market value, as determined by the most recent traded price of each security at the balance sheet date. Consistent with the Company's overall current investment objectives and activities its entire marketable securities portfolio is classified as trading. Accordingly, all unrealized gains (losses) on this portfolio are recorded in income. Included in investments in marketable securities is approximately $3.08 million and $2.96 million of large capital real estate investment trusts (REITs) as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

Net realized and unrealized gain from investments in marketable securities for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 is summarized below: 

	Three Months Ended March 31,
Description	2018		2017
Net realized loss from sales of securities	$	(8,000)	$	(18,000)
Unrealized net gain in trading securities		(13,000)		145,000
Total net gain from investments in marketable securities	$	(21,000)	$	127,000

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, net realized losses from sales of marketable securities of approximately $8,000 consisted of approximately $29,000 of gross losses net of $21,000 of gross gains. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, net realized losses from sales of marketable securities of approximately $18,000 consisted of approximately $84,000 of gross losses net of $66,000 of gross gains.

Investment gains and losses on marketable securities may fluctuate significantly from period to period in the future and could have a significant impact on the Company's net earnings. However, the amount of investment gains or losses on marketable securities for any given period has no predictive value and variations in amount from period to period have no practical analytical value.