AUCTION RATE SECURITIES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2011

Significant Assumptions Used to Determine the Fair Value of Auction Rate Securities

The following table presents the significant assumptions used to determine the fair value of the Company’s auction rate securities at October 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010:

Assumption	October 31, 2011	October 31, 2010
Discount rates	L + 3.21% - L + 17.50%	L + 2.50% - L + 18.59%
Yields	L + 2.0% - L + 3.5%	L + 2.0% - L + 3.5%
Average expected lives	4 - 10 years	4 - 10 years

Changes in the Cost Basis and Fair Value of the Auction Rate Securities

The following tables present the changes in the cost basis and fair value of the Company’s auction rate securities for the years ended October 31, 2011 and 2010:

		September 30,			September 30,
(in thousands)	Cost Basis			Fair Value (Level 3)
Balance at beginning of year	$	23,307		$	20,171
Unrealized gains		—			537
Unrealized losses		—			(38	)
Redemption of security by issuer		(5,000	)		(5,000	)
Balance at October 31, 2011	$	18,307		$	15,670

		September 30,			September 30,
(in thousands)	Cost Basis			Fair Value (Level 3)
Balance at beginning of year	$	23,434		$	19,531
Unrealized gains		—			1,075
Unrealized losses		—			(435	)
Other-than-temporary credit loss recognized in earnings		(127	)		—
Balance at October 31, 2010	$	23,307		$	20,171