Note 4 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

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 September 30, 2018:



(In thousands)	Level I		Level II		Total
Assets at Fair Value
Investment Portfolio:
U.S. government and agency securities	$	234,507	$	21,545	$	256,052
State and municipal obligations	—		345,029		345,029
Money market instruments	156,396		—		156,396
Corporate bonds and notes	—		2,480,097		2,480,097
RMBS	—		272,125		272,125
CMBS	—		576,829		576,829
Other ABS	—		674,509		674,509
Equity securities	145,198		3,514		148,712
Other investments (1)	—		149,265		149,265
Total Investments at Fair Value (2)	536,101		4,522,913		5,059,014		(3)
Total Assets at Fair Value	$	536,101	$	4,522,913	$	5,059,014	(3)

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(1)	Comprising short-term certificates of deposit and commercial paper.


(2)	Does not include certain other invested assets ($3.6 million), primarily invested in limited partnership investments valued using the net asset value as a practical expedient. Includes cash collateral held under securities lending agreements ($31.8 million) reinvested in money market instruments.


(3)	Includes $34.4 million of securities loaned to third-party Borrowers under securities lending agreements, classified as other assets in our consolidated balance sheets. See Note 5 for more information.

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



(In thousands)	Level I		Level II		Total
Assets at Fair Value
Investment Portfolio:
U.S. government and agency securities	$	124,969	$	8,023	$	132,992
State and municipal obligations	—		386,111		386,111
Money market instruments	213,357		—		213,357
Corporate bonds and notes	—		2,304,017		2,304,017
RMBS	—		216,749		216,749
CMBS	—		503,955		503,955
Other ABS	—		676,158		676,158
Foreign government and agency securities	—		36,448		36,448
Equity securities	175,205		860		176,065
Other investments (1)	—		25,720		25,720
Total Investments at Fair Value (2)	513,531		4,158,041		4,671,572		(3)
Total Assets at Fair Value	$	513,531	$	4,158,041	$	4,671,572	(3)

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(1)	Comprising short-term certificates of deposit and commercial paper.


(2)	Does not include certain other invested assets ($0.3 million), primarily invested in limited partnerships, accounted for as cost-method investments and not measured at fair value. Includes cash collateral held under securities lending agreements ($19.4 million) reinvested in money market instruments.

(3)

Includes $28.0 million of securities loaned to third-party Borrowers under securities lending agreements, classified as other assets in our consolidated balance sheets. See Note 5 for more information.

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 in our condensed consolidated balance sheets were as follows as of the dates indicated:



	September 30, 2018				December 31, 2017
(In thousands)	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value
Assets:
Other invested assets (1)	$	—	$	—	$	334	$	3,226
Liabilities:
Senior notes	1,029,511		1,053,528		1,027,074		1,093,934

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(1)

As a result of implementing the update to the standard for the accounting of financial instruments effective January 1, 2018, other invested assets are no longer carried at amortized cost.