Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Income Taxes [Abstract]

Income Taxes

NOTE 19 – Income Taxes

Our effective rate for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 was 40.4% and 40.9%, respectively, compared to 11.8% and 36.2% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. The provision for income taxes for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 were reduced primarily as a result of the release of the valuation allowance due to realized and unrealized capital gains, which offset previously recorded unrealized capital losses.