INVESTMENT SECURITIES

12 Months Ended

Sep. 29, 2012

Available-for-sale Securities [Table Text Block]

5.	INVESTMENT SECURITIES
	Fair value is defined as the price that we would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. In determining fair value, the accounting standards establish a three level hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value, as follows:
		•	Level 1 - inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
		•	Level 2 - inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.
		•	Level 3 – inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.
	The following available-for-sale securities are re-measured to fair value on a recurring basis and are valued using Level 1 inputs and the market approach as follows:

	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Holding Gains		Gross Unrealized Holding Losses		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
At September 29, 2012
Available-for-sale short-term:
Government debt securities	$	75	$	-	$	-	$	75

	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Holding Gains		Gross Unrealized Holding Losses		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
At October 1, 2011
Available-for-sale short-term:
Government debt securities	$	2,696	$	3	$	-	$	2,699

At September 29, 2012, all of the Company’s government debt securities mature within fiscal year 2013.