CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands	Common stock [Member]	Paid-in capital [Member]	Treasury stock [Member]	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Member]	Accumulated deficit [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 205,047	$ 1,135,296	$ (104,959)	$ (48,163)	$ (990,281)
Net income (loss)					(48,441)	(48,441)
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses, net (note 7)	0	0	0	(100,796)	0	(100,796)
Common stock issuance (note 14)	135,000	528,335	0	0	0
Reissuance of treasury stock, net	0	(7,892)	40,524	0	(34,488)
Equity compensation	0	4,175	0	0	0
Benefit plan adjustments						0
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	(10,311)	0	(10,311)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	340,047	1,659,914	(64,435)	(159,270)	(1,073,210)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	340,047	1,661,269	(64,435)	(117,726)	(1,074,617)	744,538
Net income (loss)					177,521	177,521
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses, net (note 7)	0	0	0	66,798	0	66,798
Reissuance of treasury stock, net	0	(6,680)	31,498	0	(29,791)
Equity compensation	0	6,472	0	0	0
Benefit plan adjustments	0	0	0	(5,198)	0	(5,198)
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	(650)	0	(650)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2014	$ 340,047	$ 1,661,061	$ (32,937)	$ (56,776)	$ (926,887)	$ 984,508