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Business Segments (Summary Of Company's Segment Results) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues | [1] | $ 115 |  | $ 139 |  |
Net change in fair value of insured derivatives |  | (28) |  | 28 |  |
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange |  | (69) |  | 30 |  |
Net investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments |  | (1) |  | 0 |  |
Net gains (losses) on extinguishment of debt |  | 2 |  |  |  |
Other net realized gains (losses) |  | (1) |  | 20 |  |
Revenues of consolidated VIEs |  | 14 |  | 2 |  |
Inter-segment revenues | [2] | 0 |  | 0 |  |
Total revenues |  | 32 |  | 219 |  |
Losses and loss adjustment |  | 22 |  | (6) |  |
Operating |  | 45 |  | 48 |  |
Interest |  | 50 |  | 50 |  |
Expenses of consolidated VIEs |  | 16 |  | 14 |  |
Inter-segment expenses | [2] | 0 |  |  |  |
Total expenses |  | 133 |  | 106 |  |
Income (loss) before income taxes |  | (101) |  | 113 |  |
Provision (benefit) for income taxes |  | (23) |  | 44 |  |
Net income (loss) |  | (78) |  | 69 |  |
Identifiable assets |  | 12,751 |  | 15,895 |  | $ 14,836
Operating Segments [Member] | U S Public Finance Insurance [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues | [1] | 84 |  | 105 |  |
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange |  | 9 |  | 3 |  |
Net investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments |  | 0 |  | 0 |  |
Other net realized gains (losses) |  | 0 |  | (4) |  |
Inter-segment revenues | [2] | 6 |  | 10 |  |
Total revenues |  | 99 |  | 114 |  |
Losses and loss adjustment |  | 9 |  | (6) |  |
Operating |  | 9 |  | 10 |  |
Inter-segment expenses | [2] | 18 |  | 24 |  |
Total expenses |  | 36 |  | 28 |  |
Income (loss) before income taxes |  | 63 |  | 86 |  |
Provision (benefit) for income taxes |  | 22 |  | 29 |  |
Net income (loss) |  | 41 |  | 57 |  |
Identifiable assets |  | 5,268 |  | 5,859 |  |
Operating Segments [Member] | Corporate Operations [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues | [1] | 5 |  | 5 |  |
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange |  | (84) |  | 32 |  |
Net investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments |  | (1) |  |  |  |
Net gains (losses) on extinguishment of debt |  | 2 |  |  |  |
Other net realized gains (losses) |  | (1) |  | 24 |  |
Inter-segment revenues | [2] | 16 |  | 16 |  |
Total revenues |  | (63) |  | 77 |  |
Operating |  | 22 |  | 19 |  |
Interest |  | 23 |  | 25 |  |
Inter-segment expenses | [2] | 0 |  | 1 |  |
Total expenses |  | 45 |  | 45 |  |
Income (loss) before income taxes |  | (108) |  | 32 |  |
Provision (benefit) for income taxes |  | (24) |  | 17 |  |
Net income (loss) |  | (84) |  | 15 |  |
Identifiable assets |  | 2,478 |  | 2,730 |  |
Operating Segments [Member] | International And Structured Finance Insurance [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues | [1] | 26 |  | 29 |  |
Net change in fair value of insured derivatives |  | (28) |  | 28 |  |
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange |  | 6 |  | (5) |  |
Other net realized gains (losses) |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Revenues of consolidated VIEs |  | 14 |  | 2 |  |
Inter-segment revenues | [2] | 12 |  | 18 |  |
Total revenues |  | 30 |  | 72 |  |
Losses and loss adjustment |  | 13 |  | 0 |  |
Operating |  | 14 |  | 19 |  |
Interest |  | 27 |  | 25 |  |
Expenses of consolidated VIEs |  | 16 |  | 14 |  |
Inter-segment expenses | [2] | 14 |  | 18 |  |
Total expenses |  | 84 |  | 76 |  |
Income (loss) before income taxes |  | (54) |  | (4) |  |
Provision (benefit) for income taxes |  | (23) |  | (2) |  |
Net income (loss) |  | (31) |  | (2) |  |
Identifiable assets |  | 7,845 |  | 10,565 |  |
Intersegment Elimination [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Inter-segment revenues | [2] | (34) |  | (44) |  |
Total revenues |  | (34) |  | (44) |  |
Inter-segment expenses | [2] | (32) |  | (43) |  |
Total expenses |  | (32) |  | (43) |  |
Income (loss) before income taxes |  | (2) |  | (1) |  |
Provision (benefit) for income taxes |  | 2 |  | 0 |  |
Net income (loss) |  | (4) |  | (1) |  |
Identifiable assets |  | $ (2,840) | [3] | $ (3,259) | [4] |
[1] | Represents the sum of third-party financial guarantee net premiums earned, net investment income, insurance-related fees and reimbursements and other fees.
[2] | Represents intercompany premium income and expense and intercompany interest income and expense pertaining to intercompany receivables and payables.
[3] | Consists of intercompany deferred income taxes, reinsurance balances and repurchase agreements.
[4] | Consists of intercompany reinsurance balances, repurchase agreements and deferred income taxes.

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