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Business Developments And Risks And Uncertainties (Narrative) (Detail) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Jan. 20, 2017 USD ($) | Jan. 10, 2017 USD ($) | Jan. 01, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) segments $ / shares shares | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of operating segments | segments |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |
Fixed-to-Floating rate Surplus Notes |  |  |  |  | 14.00% |  |
Dividends from subsidiaries |  |  |  |  | $ 118 | $ 114 |
Income (loss) before income taxes |  |  |  |  | $ (339) | $ 289 | $ 641
Treasury stock shares acquired | shares |  |  |  |  | 16,600,000 | 39,900,000 | 3,300,000
Shares repurchased under share repurchase program, average price per share | $ / shares |  |  |  |  | $ 6.37 | $ 7.6 | $ 10.45
Included in AOCI | [1] |  |  |  | $ 270 |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Included in AOCI |  |  |  |  | 97 |  |
Zohar I [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Claims payments |  |  |  |  |  | $ 149 |
SubsequentEvent [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from Senior Lenders |  |  | $ 325 |  |  |  |
SubsequentEvent [Member] | Zohar II [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Claims payments |  | $ 770 |  |  |  |  |
SubsequentEvent [Member] | Puerto Rico [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Claims payments |  |  |  | $ 24 |  |  |
Mbia Inc [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Liquid assets |  |  |  |  | 403 |  |
Mbia Inc [Member] | SubsequentEvent [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from subordinated financing |  |  | 38 |  |  |  |
Mbia Corp [Member] | SubsequentEvent [Member] | Zohar II [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Claims payments |  | $ 60 |  |  |  |  |
National [Member] | Puerto Rico [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Claims payments |  |  |  |  | $ 173 |  |
Cutwater Holdings [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale effective date |  |  |  |  | Jan. 01, 2015 |  |
Assured Guaranty Corp [Member] | Zohar II [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding bonds |  |  |  |  | $ 347 |  |
Assured Guaranty Corp [Member] | SubsequentEvent [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payment for sale of subsidiary |  |  | $ 23 |  |  |  |
MBIA UK [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss recorded on adjustment of carrying value to fair value less costs to sell |  |  |  |  | 114 |  |
Insurance par exposure |  |  |  |  | 18,600 |  |
Income (loss) before income taxes |  |  |  |  | $ 45 | $ (5) | $ 71
MBIA UK [Member] | SubsequentEvent [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale effective date |  |  | Jan. 10, 2017 |  |  |  |
[1] | Includes $97 million of losses related to items that continue to be included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until ultimate sale.

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