 Net periodic pension cost for the plans consisted of the following in 2012, 2011, and 2010 (in thousands): The allocations of investments at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the measurement dates of the plan, by asset category in the Hecla  Mining Company Retirement Plan and the Lucky Friday Pension Plan are as follows: The “Precious metals and other” asset category in the table above includes our common stock in the amounts of $2.9 million and $2.6 million at  December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. These investments represent approximately 4% of the total combined assets of these plans at both  December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. Our statement of investment policy delineates the responsibilities of the board, the management investment committee, the investment  manager(s), and investment adviser/consultant, and provides guidelines on investment management. Investment objectives are established for each of  the asset categories included in the pension plans with comparisons of performance against appropriate benchmarks. Our policy calls for investments  to be supervised by qualified investment managers. The investment managers are monitored on an ongoing basis by our outside consultant, with  formal reporting to us and the consultant performed each quarter. The policy sets forth the following allocation of assets: Our statement of investment policy and objectives aspires to achieve the assumed long term rate of return on plan assets established by the plan’s  actuary plus one percent.  Accounting guidance has established a hierarchy of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The three levels included in the hierarchy are: Level 1: quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities Level 2: significant other observable inputs Level 3: significant unobservable inputs The fair values by asset category in each plan, along with their hierarchy levels, are as follows as of December 31, 2012 (in thousands):  [ HL:10-K ] F-19 Hecla  Lucky Friday  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3  Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Interest-bearing cash $ 683 $ — $ — $ 683 $ 198 $ — $ — $ 198 Common stock 2,309 — — 2,309 588 — — 588 Real estate — — 9,611 9,611 — — 2,513 2,513 Collective investment funds  — 10,095 7,251 17,346 — 2,469 1,978 4,447 Mutual funds  24,183  —  —  24,183  6,637  —  —  6,637  Total fair value  $ 27,175  $ 10,095  $ 16,862  $ 54,132  $ 7,423  $ 2,469  $ 4,491  $ 14,383  Target  Minimum  Maximum  Large cap U.S. equities 10% 7% 13% Small cap U.S. equities 5% 4% 6% Non-U.S. equities  10% 8% 12% Fixed income 35% 29% 43% Real estate 15% 12% 18% Absolute return hedge funds 15% 12% 18% Real return 10% 8% 12% Hecla  Lucky Friday  2012 2011 2012 2011 Cash  1% 1% 1% 1% Large cap U.S. equities 11% 13% 9% 12% Small cap U.S. equities 4% 4% 5% 4% Non-U.S. equities  10% 9% 10% 9% Fixed income 33% 37% 34% 38% Real estate 18% 13% 17% 13% Absolute return hedge funds 13% 13% 14% 13% Real return 10%  10%  10%  10% Total 100%  100%  100%  100% Pension Benefits  Other Benefits  2012 2011 2010 2012 2011 2010 Service cost $ 3,974 $ 3,877 $ 2,203 $ — $ — $ — Interest cost 4,068 4,114 3,724 3 4 4 Expected return on plan assets (4,581)  (5,481)  (5,041)  —  —  —  Amortization of prior service cost 401 403 602 — — — Amortization of net gain (loss) from earlier periods 2,826  880  867  (28)  (31)  (33) Net periodic pension cost  $ 6,688  $ 3,793  $ 2,355  $ (25)  $ (27)  $ (29)