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		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 Trade Credit Reinsurance and Surety Insurance [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Trade Credit Reinsurance and Surety Insurance [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Financial Guaranty Segment	Sep. 30, 2013 Financial Guaranty Segment	Sep. 30, 2014 Financial Guaranty Segment Financial Guarantee Insurance Product Line [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Financial Guaranty Segment Financial Guarantee Insurance Product Line [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Financial Guaranty Segment Financial Guarantee Insurance Product Line [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Financial Guaranty Segment Financial Guarantee Insurance Product Line [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Financial Guaranty Segment Financial Guarantee Insurance Product Line [Member] 2012 FGIC Commutation [Member]
Balance at January 1	$ 1,620,351	$ 2,185,421	$ 2,346,879	$ 2,300	$ 1,600	$ 32,220	$ 32,094	$ 32,859	$ 23,611	$ 19,458	$ 64,291
Increase (decrease) in gross claim liability								(18,154)	(28,486)	8,965	(56,477)
(Increase) decrease in gross potential recoveries								18,308	8,896	64,454	35,339
(Increase) decrease in discount								(8,438)	24,075	(68,197)	30,208
Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums								1,384	926	(1,887)	213
Total incurred losses and LAE								(6,900)	5,411	3,335	9,283
Paid Losses and LAE Current year								(669)	(70)	(692)	(103)
Paid losses and LAE Prior years								4,615	1,586	7,804	(42,933)	41,600
Total paid losses and LAE								3,946	1,516	7,112	(43,036)
Balance at September 30	1,620,351	2,185,421	2,346,879	2,300	1,600	32,220	32,094	29,905	30,538	29,905	30,538
Claim liability established in current period								922	866	13,065	1,249
Changes in existing claim liabilities								(7,822)	4,545	(9,730)	8,034
Components of increase in discount [Abstract]
Decrease (increase) in discount related to claim liabilities established in current period								322	268	(3,735)	103
Decrease (increase) in discount related to existing claim liabilities								(8,760)	23,807	(64,462)	30,105
Total decrease (increase) in discount								$ (8,438)	$ 24,075	$ (68,197)	$ 30,208