INVESTMENT SECURITIES

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Investment Securities [Text Block]

5. INVESTMENT SECURITIES

The fair values of the Company’s investment securities are determined in accordance with GAAP, with fair value being defined as the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, the Company utilizes the three-tier value hierarchy, as prescribed by GAAP, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

• Level 1 - inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for an identical asset or liability in an active market.

• Level 2 - inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in an active market or model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

• Level 3 - inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement of the asset or liability.

The following available-for-sale securities (which all mature within one year) are re-measured to fair value on a recurring basis and are valued using Level 1 inputs:

	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Holding Gains		Gross Unrealized Holding Losses		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
At December 31, 2011
Available-for-sale short-term:
Government debt securities	$	2,676	$	4	$	—	$	2,680
	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Holding Gains		Gross Unrealized Holding Losses		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
At October 1, 2011
Available-for-sale short-term:
Government debt securities	$	2,696	$	3	$	—	$	2,699

Proceeds from the sale and redemption of investment securities amounted to $320,000 and $1,743,000 for the 13-week periods ended December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011, respectively. No realized gains or losses were included in Other income (expense), net for the 13-week periods ended December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011.