Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments - Schedule of Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Feb. 28, 2013		Nov. 30, 2012
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash in banks	$ 857,202		$ 1,038,664
Money market investments	2,160,756		1,653,931
Total cash and cash equivalents	3,017,958		2,692,595
Cash and securities segregated	$ 3,728,742	[1],[2]	$ 4,082,595	[1],[3]

[1] Consists of deposits at exchanges and clearing organizations, as well as deposits in accordance with Rule 15c3-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which subjects Jefferies as a broker-dealer carrying client accounts to requirements related to maintaining cash or qualified securities in a segregated reserve account for the exclusive benefit of its clients, and Jefferies Bache, LLC which, as a futures commission merchant, is subject to the segregation requirements pursuant to the Commodity Exchange Act.

[2] Includes U.S. government securities segregated for regulatory purposes with a fair value of $357.2 million.

[3] Includes U.S. government securities segregated for regulatory purposes with a fair value of $404.3 million.