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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS [Text Block]
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
ASC 820-10, Fair Value Measurements, clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing 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, ASC 820-10 establishes a three-tier value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows: (Level 1) observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical assets in active markets; (Level 2) inputs other than the quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly; and (Level 3) unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which requires the Company to develop its own assumptions. This hierarchy requires the Company to use observable market data, when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value.
The Company's cash and investment instruments are classified within Level 1 or Level 2 of the fair-value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices, broker or dealer quotations, or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency. The type of instrument valued based on quoted market prices in active markets primarily includes money market securities. This type of instrument is generally classified within Level 1 of the fair-value hierarchy. The types of instruments valued based on other observable inputs (Level 2 of the fair-value hierarchy) include investment-grade corporate bonds and government, state, municipal and provincial obligations. Such types of investments are valued by using a multi-dimensional relational model, the inputs are primarily benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers, and reference data including market research publications. The Company principally holds securities until maturity; however, they may be sold under certain circumstances, including, but not limited to, the funding of acquisitions and other strategic investments. As a result the Company classified its investment portfolio as available-for-sale. The Company's investments classified as Level 1 and Level 2 are available-for-sale investments, and were recorded at fair market value.
The fair-value hierarchy of the Company's marketable securities at March 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013, was as follows (in thousands):
 
Fair Value Measurement at
 
 
March 31, 2014
 
Description
March 31, 2014
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
 
Commercial paper
$
3,723

 
$

 
$
3,723

 
Money market funds
17,516

 
17,516

 

 
Corporate securities
133,684

 

 
133,684

 
     Total
$
154,923

 
$
17,516

 
$
137,407

 

 
Fair Value Measurement at
 
 
December 31, 2013
 
Description
December 31, 2013
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
 
Commercial paper
$
3,099

 
$

 
$
3,099

 
Money market funds
17,492

 
17,492

 

 
Corporate securities
109,179

 

 
109,179

 
     Total
$
129,770

 
$
17,492

 
$
112,278

 


The Company did not transfer any investments between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair-value hierarchy in the three months ended March 31, 2014, and the twelve months ended December 31, 2013.