Available-for-Sale Investments

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Available-for-Sale Investments [Abstract]

Investments in Debt and Marketable Equity Securities (and Certain Trading Assets) Disclosure [Text Block]

Available-for-Sale Investments

Available-for-sale securities consist of assets held as part of the Spire Corporation Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan. These investments have been classified as available-for-sale investments and are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income. The unrealized gain on these marketable securities was $533 thousand and $201 thousand as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.



(in thousands)	Available-for-sale Investments
Balance, December 31, 2011	$	201
Net change in unrealized gain on available for sale marketable securities	332
Balance, March 31, 2012	$	533

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of investments in certain debt and equity securities (and certain other trading assets) which include all debt and equity securities (other than those equity securities accounted for under the equity or cost methods of accounting) with readily determinable fair values. Other trading assets include assets that are carried on the balance sheet at fair value and held for trading purposes. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise that is in the form of a security. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities (and other trading assets).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27405-111563

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379141&loc=d3e15032-111544

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Equity Security

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6511694

-Topic 320

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

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-Section 50

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27161-111563

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Debt Security

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509901

-Topic 320

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 3, 19, 20, 21, 22, 137

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957658&loc=d3e62557-112803

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

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-Paragraph 6

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27290-111563

+ Details