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Fair-Value Measurements
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Fair-Value Measurements [Abstract] 
Fair-Value Measurements
5. Fair-Value Measurements

Assets and liabilities reported at fair value are classified in one of the following three levels within the fair-value hierarchy:

Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
Level 2: Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data
Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data

The following table summarizes the valuation of financial instruments within the fair-value hierarchy:


Cash equivalents consist of short-term interest-bearing instruments (primarily commercial paper, certificates of deposit and money-market funds) with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase. Current marketable securities consist of variable-rate demand notes.

Money-market funds reflect their published net asset value and are classified as Level 1 instruments. Commercial paper, certificates of deposit and variable-rate demand notes are generally valued using published interest rates for instruments with similar terms and maturities, and accordingly, are classified as Level 2 instruments. At September 30, 2011, the weighted-average remaining maturity of the cash equivalents was less than one month. Based on their short maturities, the carrying amount of the cash equivalents approximates their fair value.

Con-way holds one auction-rate security, which is valued with an income approach that utilizes a discounted cash flow model. The following table summarizes the change in fair values of Con-way's auction-rate security, which was valued using Level 3 inputs:
       
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Auction-rate security
 
Balance at December 31, 2009
  $ 6,691  
Unrealized gain
    48  
Partial redemption
    (700 )
Balance at December 31, 2010
  $ 6,039  
Unrealized gain
    54  
Partial redemption
    (525 )
Balance at September 30, 2011
  $ 5,568