Note 4 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block]

The following is a list of assets that are measured at fair value by hierarchy level as of March 31, 2017:



(In thousands)	Level I		Level II		Level III		Total
Assets at Fair Value
Investment Portfolio:
U.S. government and agency securities	$	267,524	$	4,906	$	—	$	272,430
State and municipal obligations	—		341,197		—		341,197
Money market instruments	384,225		—		—		384,225
Corporate bonds and notes	—		2,115,001		—		2,115,001
RMBS	—		309,460		—		309,460
CMBS	—		473,505		—		473,505
Other ABS	—		488,340		—		488,340
Foreign government and agency securities	—		38,035		—		38,035
Equity securities	—		830		500		1,330
Other investments (1)	—		12,720		500		13,220
Total Investments at Fair Value (2)	651,749		3,783,994		1,000		4,436,743
Total Assets at Fair Value	$	651,749	$	3,783,994	$	1,000	$	4,436,743

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(1)	Comprising short-term certificates of deposit and commercial paper, included within Level II, and convertible notes of non-reporting issuers, included within Level III.


(2)	Does not include certain other invested assets ($1.0 million), primarily invested in limited partnerships, accounted for as cost-method investments and not measured at fair value.

The following is a list of assets that are measured at fair value by hierarchy level as of December 31, 2016:



(In thousands)	Level I		Level II		Level III		Total
Assets at Fair Value
Investment Portfolio:
U.S. government and agency securities	$	237,479	$	—	$	—	$	237,479
State and municipal obligations	—		358,536		—		358,536
Money market instruments	431,472		—		—		431,472
Corporate bonds and notes	—		2,024,205		—		2,024,205
RMBS	—		388,842		—		388,842
CMBS	—		507,273		—		507,273
Other ABS	—		450,128		—		450,128
Foreign government and agency securities	—		32,807		—		32,807
Equity securities	—		830		500		1,330
Other investments (1)	—		28,663		500		29,163
Total Investments at Fair Value (2)	668,951		3,791,284		1,000		4,461,235
Total Assets at Fair Value	$	668,951	$	3,791,284	$	1,000	$	4,461,235

______________________


(1)	Comprising short-term certificates of deposit and commercial paper, included within Level II, and convertible notes of non-reporting issuers, included within Level III.


(2)	Does not include certain other invested assets ($1.2 million), primarily invested in limited partnerships, accounted for as cost-method investments and not measured at fair value.

Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Table Text Block]

The carrying value and estimated fair value of other selected assets and liabilities not carried at fair value on our condensed consolidated balance sheets were as follows as of the dates indicated:



	March 31, 2017				December 31, 2016
(In thousands)	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value
Assets:
Other invested assets	$	973	$	3,751	$	1,195	$	3,789
Liabilities:
Long-term debt	1,008,777		1,104,711		1,069,537		1,214,471