UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parentheticals) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Amortized cost of fixed maturities	$ 29,689,322	$ 30,157,581
Amortized cost of short-term investments, available for sale	623,158	816,638
Amortized cost of fixed maturities, trading	1,965,372	1,946,501
Amortized cost of short-term investments, trading	5,777	14,969
Equity securities, cost	586,220	638,455
Future policy benefit reserves recoverable	$ 2,971,191	$ 3,191,584
Ordinary shares, shares authorized (in shares)	999,990,000	999,990,000
Common shares, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Ordinary shares, shares issued (in shares)	258,780,274	256,033,895
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding (in shares)	258,780,274	256,033,895