XML 53 R15.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.8
Marketable Securities (Disclosure)
 6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2014
Marketable Securities [Abstract]  
Marketable Securities Disclosure

7.       Marketable Securities

 

We have marketable securities that are invested in money market and mutual funds that are liquid and actively traded on the exchanges. These securities are assets that are held in rabbi trusts established for our deferred compensation plans. For further information on the deferred compensation plans, see Note 10 to the condensed consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-Q.

 

We have classified these marketable securities as trading securities since their inception as the assets are held in rabbi trusts. Trading securities are recorded at fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets with any gains or losses recognized currently in earnings. We do not intend to engage in active trading of the securities, and participants in the deferred compensation plans may redirect their investments at any time. We have matched the current portion of the deferred compensation liability with the current asset and the noncurrent deferred compensation liability with the noncurrent asset; the current asset portion is included in “Other current assets” in “Current Assets” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

The money market investments in the trust approximate fair value due to the short period of time to maturity. The fair values of the equity securities are based on quoted market prices as traded on the exchanges. The composition of these securities as of April 30, 2014 and October 31, 2013 is as follows.

 April 30, 2014 October 31, 2013
    Fair    Fair
In thousandsCost Value Cost Value
            
Current trading securities:           
Money markets$ 22 $ 22 $ - $ -
Mutual funds  172   279   134   199
Total current trading securities  194   301   134   199
            
Noncurrent trading securities:           
Money markets  452   452   380   380
Mutual funds  2,471   3,105   1,995   2,615
Total noncurrent trading securities  2,923   3,557   2,375   2,995
            
Total trading securities$ 3,117 $ 3,858 $ 2,509 $ 3,194