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Note 10 - Derivative Financial Instruments
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements  
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block]
10.
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
The Company
may,
from time to time, enter into the following derivative instruments:
 
Options
 
The Company
may
acquire publicly traded options from time to time. 
 
Foreign Currency Forward Contracts
 

 
The Company invests in foreign currency denominated investments that expose it to fluctuations in foreign currency rates, and, therefore, the Company
may,
from time to time, hedge such exposure by using foreign currency forward contracts.  The Company carries the foreign currency forward contracts at fair value and includes them as a component of other investments, at fair value in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.  As of
December 31, 2020
, and
2019
, the Company had
no
outstanding foreign currency forward contracts. 

 
EuroDollar Futures
 

 
The Company invests in floating rate investments that expose it to fluctuations in interest and, therefore, the Company
may,
from time to time, hedge such exposure using EuroDollar futures.  The Company carries the EuroDollar future contracts at fair value and includes them as a component of investments-trading or trading securities sold,
not
yet purchased in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.  As of
December 31, 2020
, and
2019
, the Company had
no
outstanding EuroDollar future contracts.
   
TBAs and Other Forward Agency MBS Contracts
 
 
The Company enters into TBAs and other forward agency MBS transactions for
three
main reasons.
 
 
(i)
The Company trades U.S. government agency obligations.  In connection with these activities, the Company
may
be required to maintain inventory in order to facilitate customer transactions.  In order to mitigate exposure to market risk, the Company
may
enter into the purchase and sale of TBAs and other forward agency MBS contracts.
 
(ii)
The Company also enters into TBAs and other forward agency MBS contracts in order to assist clients (generally small to mid-size mortgage loan originators) in hedging the interest rate risk associated with the mortgages owned by these clients.
 
(iii)
Finally, the Company
may
enter into TBAs and other forward agency MBS contracts on a speculative basis.
 
The Company carries the TBAs and other forward agency MBS contracts at fair value and includes them as a component of investments—trading or trading securities sold,
not
yet purchased in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. At
December 31, 2020
, the Company had open TBA and other forward MBS purchase agreements in the notional amount of 
$1,706,834
 and open TBA and other forward MBS sale agreements in the notional amount of
$1,809,550
. At
December 31, 2019
, the Company had open TBA and other forward agency MBS purchase agreements in the notional amount of
$1,773,000
 and open TBA and other forward agency MBS sale agreements in the notional amount of
$1,874,194.
 
 
Other Extended Settlement Trades
 

 
When the Company buys or sells a financial instrument that will
not
settle in the regular time frame, the Company will account for that purchase and sale on the settlement date rather than the trade date.  In those cases, the Company accounts for the transaction between trade date and settlement date as either a forward purchase commitment or a forward sale commitment, both considered derivatives.  The Company will record an unrealized gain or unrealized loss on the derivative for the difference between the fair value of the underlying financial instrument as of the reporting date and the agreed upon transaction price.  At
December 31, 2020
, the Company had open forward purchase commitments in the notional amount of
$365
.  At
December 31, 2019
, the Company had open forward purchase commitments in the notional amount of
$1,526.
 
The following table presents the Company's derivative financial instruments and the amount and location of the fair value (unrealized gain / (loss)) presented in the consolidated balance sheets as of
December 31, 2020
 and
2019
.
 
 
 
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS-BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
   
 
 
As of December 31,
 
Derivative Financial Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments Under ASC 815
 
Balance Sheet Classification
 
2020
   
2019
 
TBA and other forward agency MBS
 
Investments-trading
  $
13,717
    $
3,686
 
Other extended settlement trades
 
Investments-trading
   
-
     
-
 
TBA and other forward agency MBS
 
Trading securities sold, not yet purchased
   
(11,822
)    
(3,017
)
Other extended settlement trades
 
Trading securities sold, not yet purchased
   
-
     
-
 
Derivatives, publicly traded options  
Other investments sold, not yet purchased
   
(233
)    
-
 
   
 
  $
1,662
    $
669
 
 
The following table presents the Company's derivative financial instruments and the amount and location of the net gain (loss) recognized in the consolidated statement of operations.
 
 
  
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS-STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS INFORMATION
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
 
 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
Derivative Financial Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments Under ASC 815
Income Statement Classification
 
2020
   
2019
   
2018
 
Foreign currency forward contracts
Revenues-principal transactions and other income
  $
-
    $
51
    $
87
 
Other extended settlement trades
Revenues-net trading
   
-
     
(70
)    
60
 
TBA and other forward agency MBS
Revenues-net trading
   
5,219
     
6,545
     
6,053
 
Derivatives, publicly traded options
Other investments sold, not yet purchased
   
105
     
-
     
-
 
 
 
  $
5,324
    $
6,526
    $
6,200