Note 18 - Quarterly Financial Data (Details) (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013 Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) [Member]		Sep. 30, 2013 Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) [Member]		Jun. 30, 2013 Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) [Member]		Mar. 31, 2013 Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) [Member]		Sep. 30, 2012 Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) [Member]		Jun. 30, 2012 Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) [Member]		Mar. 31, 2012 Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) [Member]
Net premiums earned-insurance	$ 830,894,000	$ 738,982,000	$ 756,025,000	$ 213,198,000		$ 211,984,000		$ 213,124,000		$ 192,588,000		$ 193,875,000		$ 190,963,000		$ 186,779,000		$ 167,365,000		$ 830,894,000		$ 738,982,000
Net investment income	108,088,000	114,337,000	163,520,000	26,868,000		26,732,000		27,615,000		26,873,000		23,112,000		25,635,000		30,877,000		34,713,000		108,088,000		114,337,000
(Loss) Gain on Investments				(6,829,000)	[1]	(7,132,000)	[1]	(130,254,000)	[1]	(5,505,000)	[1]	6,351,000	[1]	84,659,000	[1]	26,419,000	[1]	67,459,000	[1]	(149,720,000)	[1]	184,888,000	[1]
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	(3,000)	(3,000)	(1,202,000)
Change in fair value of derivative instruments	(31,771,000)	(144,025,000)	628,395,000	38,586,000	[2]	10,778,000	[2]	86,535,000	[2]	(167,670,000)	[2]	2,912,000	[2]	(41,056,000)	[2]	(33,124,000)	[2]	(72,757,000)	[2]	(31,771,000)	[2]	(144,025,000)	[2]
Net (losses) gains on other financial instruments	(4,736,000)	(82,269,000)	193,329,000	(1,151,000)	[3]	902,000	[3]	1,188,000	[3]	(5,675,000)	[3]	(1,815,000)	[3]	(740,000)	[3]	(61,862,000)	[3]	(17,852,000)	[3]	(4,736,000)	[3]	(82,269,000)	[3]
Gain on sale of affiliate	0	7,708,000	0
Provision for losses	567,134,000	959,171,000	1,296,521,000	137,610,000	[4]	157,174,000	[4]	140,291,000	[4]	132,059,000	[4]	305,797,000	[4]	176,352,000	[4]	210,868,000	[4]	266,154,000	[4]	567,134,000	[4]	959,171,000	[4]
Change in PDR	(1,901,000)	41,000	(7,092,000)
Policy Acquisition Amortization Expense And Other Operating Expenses				78,978,000		78,932,000		70,987,000		97,295,000		65,994,000		63,356,000		50,998,000		78,200,000		326,192,000		258,548,000
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates	1,000	(13,000)	65,000
Net (loss) income	(196,985,000)	(451,468,000)	302,150,000	36,369,000	[5]	(12,682,000)	[5]	(33,172,000)	[5]	(187,500,000)	[5]	(177,302,000)		14,325,000		(119,259,000)		(169,232,000)		(196,985,000)	[5]	(451,468,000)
Diluted net (loss) income per share	$ (1.18)	$ (3.41)	$ 2.26	$ 0.19	[6],[7]	$ (0.07)	[6],[7]	$ (0.19)	[6],[7]	$ (1.30)	[6],[7]	$ (1.34)	[6],[7]	$ 0.11	[6],[7]	$ (0.90)	[6],[7]	$ (1.28)	[6],[7]	$ (1.18)	[6],[7]	$ (3.41)	[6],[7]
Weighted-average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding—diluted	166,366	132,533	133,863	213,504	[6]	171,830	[6]	171,783	[6]	144,355	[6]	132,525	[6]	134,033	[6]	132,346	[6]	132,465	[6]	166,366	[6]	132,533	[6]
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Change in Amount	$ 32,600,000

[1] The 2013 and 2012 amounts reflect unrealized (losses) gains, respectively, on our trading securities. The 2012 amounts also reflect realized gains (losses) on investments in connection with the continued reallocation of our investment portfolio.

[2] The change in fair value of derivative instruments for 2013 and 2012 reflects the volatility in the cumulative unrealized (loss) gain attributable to the market’s perception of our non-performance risk as a result of the changes in our CDS spread during both years. The 2013 amounts also reflect improvements in the credit spreads of the underlying securities.

[3] The 2013 and 2012 periods primarily reflect fair value gains and losses on our VIE debt.

[4] The results for 2013 reflect a continued decline in new defaults and positive development in our estimate of future losses on existing defaults. The results for the fourth quarter of 2012 include the effects of an increase in our IBNR reserve estimate.

[5] Net income in the fourth quarter of 2013 reflects unrealized gains in the change in fair value of derivative instruments and a decline in the provision for losses in our mortgage insurance segment.

[6] Diluted net (loss) income per share and average shares outstanding per the accounting standard regarding earnings per share.

[7] Net (loss) income per share is computed independently for each period presented. Consequently, the sum of the quarters may not equal the total net (loss) income per share for the year.