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INVESTMENTS:
9 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2011
Investments [Abstract]  
Investments in Debt and Marketable Equity Securities (and Certain Trading Assets) Disclosure [Text Block]
INVESTMENTS:
The carrying amount of the Company’s investments is shown in the table below:
 
 
 
As of August 31, 2011
 
As of November 30, 2010
 
 
Cost Basis
 
Unrealized
  (Losses)/Gains  
 
    Carrying    
Value
 
Cost Basis
 
Unrealized
  (Losses)/Gains  
 
    Carrying    
Value
Short-term investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trading securities
 
$
9,384


 
$
(3,054
)
 
$
6,330


 
$
9,324


 
$
(1,415
)
 
$
7,909


Available-for-sale securities
 
1


 
39


 
40


 
55


 
47


 
102


Held-to-maturity securities
 


 


 


 
910


 


 
910


Cost-method securities
 
2,412


 


 
2,412


 
2,498


 


 
2,498


 
 
$
11,797


 
$
(3,015
)
 
$
8,782


 
$
12,787


 
$
(1,368
)
 
$
11,419


Long-term investments in other assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities
 
$
944


 
$
190


 
$
1,134


 
$


 
$


 
$


Short-term trading securities generally consist of equity securities relating to the Company’s deferred compensation plan. Short-term and long-term available-for-sale securities primarily consist of investments in other companies’ equity securities. Held-to-maturity investments primarily consist of term deposits with maturities from the date of purchase greater than three months and less than one year. These term deposits are held until the maturity date and are not traded. Cost-method securities primarily consist of investments in a hedge fund and a private equity fund under the Company’s deferred compensation plan. 
Trading securities and available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value in each reporting period and therefore the carrying value of these securities equals their fair value. For cost-method securities, the Company records an impairment charge when the decline in fair value is determined to be other-than-temporary.
The following table summarizes the total realized and unrealized gains and losses recorded on the Company’s trading investments and the other-than-temporary losses recorded on cost-method securities during the three and nine months ended August 31, 2011 and 2010:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
August 31, 2011
 
August 31, 2010
 
August 31, 2011
 
August 31, 2010
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on trading investments
 
$
(1,288
)
 
$
(548
)
 
$
(816
)
 
$
(369
)
Other-than-temporary loss on cost-method securities
 


 
(363
)
 


 
(363
)