Note 10 - Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts Schedule of Significant Components Of Change In Financial Guaranty Claim Liability (Details) (USD $)											12 Months Ended								3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013 International Public Finance Obligations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Trade Credit Reinsurance and Surety Insurance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Trade Credit Reinsurance and Surety Insurance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Trade Credit Reinsurance and Surety Insurance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Project Finance Credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Soverign Risk [Member] country	Dec. 31, 2013 Soverign Risk [Member] International Public Finance Obligations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Financial Guarantee Insurance Product Line [Member] 2012 FGIC Commutation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Financial Guaranty Segment Financial Guarantee Insurance Product Line [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Financial Guaranty Segment Financial Guarantee Insurance Product Line [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Financial Guaranty Segment Financial Guarantee Insurance Product Line [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 SPAIN Soverign Risk [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 HUNGARY Soverign Risk [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 ITALY Soverign Risk [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 PORTUGAL Soverign Risk [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 GREECE Soverign Risk [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 GREECE Soverign Risk [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 IRELAND Soverign Risk [Member]
Claim liability at beginning of period	$ 2,185,421,000	$ 3,149,936,000	$ 3,310,902,000		$ 1,600,000	$ 2,000,000	$ 2,500,000					$ 64,291,000	$ 60,550,000	$ 67,447,000
Increase (decrease) in gross claim liability												(28,313,000)	188,222,000	68,082,000
Increase in gross potential recoveries												(79,968,000)	(235,787,000)	(76,105,000)
Decrease (increase) in discount												110,007,000	84,646,000	7,506,000
Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums												2,213,000	95,000	4,668,000
Total incurred losses and LAE												3,939,000	37,176,000	4,151,000
Paid losses and LAE Current year											(41,600,000)	(195,000)	(4,000)	0
Paid losses and LAE Prior years												(48,577,000)	(33,431,000)	(11,048,000)
Total paid losses and LAE												48,772,000	33,435,000	11,048,000					23,500,000
Claim liability at end of period	2,185,421,000	3,149,936,000	3,310,902,000		1,600,000	2,000,000	2,500,000					19,458,000	64,291,000	60,550,000
Number Of Stressed European Countries									6
Components of incurred losses and LAE [Abstract]
Claim liability established in current period												1,804,000	9,063,000	2,254,000
Changes in existing claim liabilities												2,135,000	28,113,000	1,897,000
Total incurred losses and LAE												3,939,000	37,176,000	4,151,000
Components of increase in discount [Abstract]
Decrease (increase) in discount related to claim liabilities established in current period												(3,000)	81,061,000	177,000
Decrease (increase) in discount related to existing claim liabilities												110,010,000	3,585,000	7,329,000
Total decrease (increase) in discount												110,007,000	84,646,000	7,506,000
Net Par Outstanding				2,400,000,000				71,900,000		172,900,000
International Exposure [Abstract]
Net Par Outstanding of Sovereign Risk															$ 49,300,000	$ 21,900,000	$ 20,200,000	$ 900,000		$ 0	$ 0