Note 10 - Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts Adjustments To Premiums Earned For Financial Guaranty Contracts (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Adjustments To Premiums Earned For Financial Guaranty Contracts [Line Items]
Refundings	$ 7.3	$ 4.6	$ 26.0	$ 18.7
Recaptures/commutations	0	0	(16.3)	2.8
Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts, Accelerated Premium Revenue, Amount	0.7	1.8	0.7	3.1
Reinsurance agreements	0	0	(6.0)	0
Foreign exchange revaluation, gross of commissions	0.6	0	(0.2)	2.0
Adjustments to installment premiums, gross of commissions	(2.4)	0	(2.3)	0.3
Total Adjustment To Premiums Earned For Financial Guaranty Contracts	$ 6.2	$ 6.4	$ 1.9	$ 26.9