Note 9 - Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts Schedule of Significant Components Of Change In Financial Guaranty Claim Liability (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified								3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014 Trade Credit Reinsurance and Surety Insurance [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Trade Credit Reinsurance and Surety Insurance [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Financial Guaranty Segment	Mar. 31, 2013 Financial Guaranty Segment	Mar. 31, 2014 Financial Guaranty Segment Financial Guarantee Insurance Product Line [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Financial Guaranty Segment Financial Guarantee Insurance Product Line [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Financial Guaranty Segment Financial Guarantee Insurance Product Line [Member] 2012 FGIC Commutation [Member]
Claim liability at beginning of period	$ 1,923,711	$ 2,185,421	$ 2,919,073	$ 1,900	$ 2,100	$ 29,751	$ 24,573	$ 19,458	$ 64,291
Increase (decrease) in gross claim liability								8,140	8,390
Increase in gross potential recoveries								32,958	(3,946)
Decrease (increase) in discount								(31,757)	(3,555)
Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums								(4,110)	(797)
Total incurred losses and LAE								5,231	92
Paid Losses and LAE Current year								0	1
Paid losses and LAE Prior years								3,126	(41,915)	41,600
Total paid losses and LAE								(3,126)	41,914
Claim liability at end of period	1,923,711	2,185,421	2,919,073	1,900	2,100	29,751	24,573	27,815	22,469
Components of incurred losses and LAE [Abstract]
Claim liability established in current period								1,040	104
Changes in existing claim liabilities								4,191	(12)
Total incurred losses and LAE								5,231	92
Components of increase in discount [Abstract]
Decrease (increase) in discount related to claim liabilities established in current period								(491)	(128)
Decrease (increase) in discount related to existing claim liabilities								(31,266)	(3,427)
Total decrease (increase) in discount								$ (31,757)	$ (3,555)