Note 9 - Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts Adjustments To Premiums Earned For Financial Guaranty Contracts (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Adjustments To Premiums Earned For Financial Guaranty Contracts [Line Items]
Refundings	$ 6,979,000	$ 7,322,000	$ 22,020,000	$ 26,029,000
Recaptures/commutations	0	0	(2,447,000)	(16,269,000)
Unearned premium acceleration upon establishment of case reserves	0	669,000	69,000	669,000
Reinsurance agreements	0	0	0	(5,995,000)
Foreign exchange revaluation, gross of commissions	112,000	616,000	(975,000)	(153,000)
Adjustments to installment premiums, gross of commissions	(155,000)	(2,390,000)	2,527,000	(2,273,000)
Total Adjustment To Premiums Earned For Financial Guaranty Contracts	$ 6,936,000	$ 6,217,000	$ 21,194,000	$ 2,008,000