Note 5 - Investments Gain (Loss) on Investments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Other Investments	$ 105	$ 10
Realized Gain (Loss) on Marketable Securities and Cost Method Investments, Excluding Other than Temporary Impairments, and Other Investments	(4,514)	(4,345)
Unrealized (losses) gains on trading securities	20,701	47,631
Total net gains on investments	16,187	43,286
Net gains (losses) on other financial instruments	592	(318)
Net gains on investments and other financial instruments	16,779	42,968
Fixed Maturities [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Marketable Securities, Realized Gain (Loss), Excluding Other than Temporary Impairments	0	(9)
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Gain (Loss), Excluding Other than Temporary Impairments	(51)	5
Trading Securities [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Realized Gain (Loss)	$ (4,568)	$ (4,351)

This concept represents the gains and losses on investments and other financial instruments for the period.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Net gains (losses) on other financial instruments. This primarily represents gains and losses on VIE debt. Also includes gains or losses from repurchases of long-term debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

This item represents the difference between the gross realized gains and losses realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6871852&loc=d3e26805-111562

+ Details

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- Definition

This item represents the net total realized and unrealized gain (loss) included in earnings for the period as a result of selling or holding marketable securities categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity, including the unrealized holding gain (loss) of held-to-maturity securities transferred to the trading security category and the cumulative unrealized gain (loss) which was included in other comprehensive income (a separate component of shareholders' equity) for available-for-sale securities transferred to trading securities during the period. Additionally, this item would include any gains (losses) realized during the period from the sale of investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 7

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph ((b)(7))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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- Definition

The difference between the book value and the sale price of other nonspecific investments. This element is used when other, more specific, elements are not appropriate. This element refers to the gain (loss) included in earnings.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

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- Definition

This item represents the gain (loss) realized on the sale of held-to-maturity securities disposed of during the period. Additionally, this item may include, if not separately presented, any losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments in debt securities which are being or have been recognized in earnings during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27405-111563

+ Details

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- Definition

This item represents the net total realized gain (loss) included in earnings for the period as a result of selling or holding marketable securities categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity, including the unrealized holding gain or loss of held-to-maturity securities transferred to the trading security category and the cumulative unrealized gain or loss which was included in other comprehensive income (a separate component of shareholders' equity) for available-for-sale securities transferred to trading securities during the period. Additionally, this item would include any gains (losses) realized during the period from the sale of investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting and/or investments that are separately or otherwise not categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

This item represents the gain (loss) realized during the period from the sale of trading securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 7

-Subparagraph c

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7(c))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Trading Securities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6526789

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27357-111563

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- Definition

Amount of unrealized holding gain (loss) recognized in the income statement for investments in debt and equity securities and other forms of securities that provide ownership interests classified as trading.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7(c))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Trading Securities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6526789

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27357-111563

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 35

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27723805&loc=d3e24584-111560

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