Note 10 - 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		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014 Trade Credit Reinsurance and Surety Insurance [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Trade Credit Reinsurance and Surety Insurance [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Financial Guaranty Segment	Jun. 30, 2013 Financial Guaranty Segment	Jun. 30, 2014 Financial Guaranty Segment Financial Guarantee Insurance Product Line [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Financial Guaranty Segment Financial Guarantee Insurance Product Line [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Financial Guaranty Segment Financial Guarantee Insurance Product Line [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Financial Guaranty Segment Financial Guarantee Insurance Product Line [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Financial Guaranty Segment Financial Guarantee Insurance Product Line [Member] 2012 FGIC Commutation [Member]
Balance at January 1	$ 1,749,435	$ 2,185,421	$ 2,716,490	$ 1,900	$ 2,000	$ 34,754	$ 25,629	$ 27,815	$ 22,469	$ 19,458	$ 64,291
Increase (decrease) in gross claim liability								18,979	(36,381)	27,119	(27,991)
(Increase) decrease in gross potential recoveries								13,188	30,389	46,146	26,443
(Increase) decrease in discount								(28,002)	9,688	(59,759)	6,133
Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums								839	84	(3,271)	(713)
Total incurred losses and LAE								5,004	3,780	10,235	3,872
Paid Losses and LAE Current year								(23)	(34)	(23)	(33)
Paid losses and LAE Prior years								63	(2,604)	3,189	(44,519)	41,600
Total paid losses and LAE								40	(2,638)	3,166	(44,552)
Balance at June 30	1,749,435	2,185,421	2,716,490	1,900	2,000	34,754	25,629	32,859	23,611	32,859	23,611
Claim liability established in current period								11,103	279	12,143	383
Changes in existing claim liabilities								(6,099)	3,501	(1,908)	3,489
Components of increase in discount [Abstract]
Decrease (increase) in discount related to claim liabilities established in current period								(3,566)	(37)	(4,057)	(165)
Decrease (increase) in discount related to existing claim liabilities								(24,436)	9,725	(55,702)	6,298
Total decrease (increase) in discount								$ (28,002)	$ 9,688	$ (59,759)	$ 6,133