Note 6 - VIEs Put Options On CPS (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010 Consolidated Committed Preferred Custodial Trust Securities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Consolidated Committed Preferred Custodial Trust Securities [Member] trust	Dec. 31, 2012 Consolidated Committed Preferred Custodial Trust Securities [Member] trust	Dec. 31, 2011 Consolidated Committed Preferred Custodial Trust Securities [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Unconsolidated Committed Preferred Custodial Trust Securities	Sep. 30, 2003 Unconsolidated Committed Preferred Custodial Trust Securities trust
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures
Short-term Investments	$ 777,532,000	$ 1,261,703,000					$ 149,981,000
Other Assets	374,662,000	333,566,000					19,000
Maximum exposure (1)							150,000,000	[1]
Statement of Operations
Net investment income	114,337,000	163,520,000	178,760,000
Change in fair value of derivative instruments, gain (loss)	(144,025,000)	628,395,000	(558,712,000)	141,000					(6,281,000)
Net (losses) gains on other financial instruments	(82,269,000)	193,329,000	(211,681,000)	(25,699,000)
Other operating expenses	196,672,000	175,810,000	191,942,000	400,000
CPS Additional Disclosure
Number of Committed Preferred Custodial Trusts						3				3
Committed Preferred Custodial Trust Securities										150,000,000
Committed Preferred Custodial Trust Securities Held By Each Trust										50,000,000
Number Of Committed Preferred Custodial Trusts Consolidated During 2009					2
Variable Interest Entity, Initial Consolidation, Gain (Loss)									(13,900,000)
Net cash inflow (outflow) for VIEs				$ (83,391,000)					$ (878,000)

[1] The maximum exposure is based on our carrying amounts of the investments.