Investments in and advance to affiliates amount of equity.

No definition available.

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Represents the reorganization of the equity method investee.

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- Definition

Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

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Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

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Amount of interest expense incurred on a debt or other obligation to related party.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Includes (1) underwriting revenue (the spread between the resale price received and the cost of the securities and related expenses) generated through the purchasing, distributing and reselling of new issues of securities (alternatively, could be a secondary offering of a large block of previously issued securities); and (2) fees earned for mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, and other types of financial advisory services.

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- Definition

Value of the investment at close of period. For investment in and advances to affiliates, if operations of any controlled companies are different in character from those of the company, group such affiliates within divisions and by type of activities.

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- Definition

Number of shares of affiliates held for management investment companies.

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- Definition

The amount for notes payable (written promise to pay), due to related parties.

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- Definition

The cash outflow associated with other investments held by the entity for investment purposes not otherwise defined in the taxonomy.

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Amount of transactions with related party during the financial reporting period.

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Expenses recognized resulting from transactions (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party.

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- Definition

Amount, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of funds outstanding borrowed in the form of a security resale agreement between the entity and another party for the purchase and resale of identical or substantially the same securities at a date certain for a specified price. Includes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement.

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Number of shares that have been repurchased and retired during the period.

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Total cost of shares repurchased divided by the total number of shares repurchased.

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Related Party Transactions (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	$ 101,856		$ 101,856	$ 28,748
Investments / advances				30	4,716
Reorganization Of Equity Method Investee					1,841
Cash and cash equivalents	12,253		12,253	13,161	14,500			18,221
Payments to Acquire Other Investments			25,290	2,035	390
Investment Banking Revenue			5,219us-gaap_InvestmentBankingRevenue	6,418us-gaap_InvestmentBankingRevenue	5,021us-gaap_InvestmentBankingRevenue
Retirement of common stock	100,000	100,000
Treasury Stock Acquired, Average Cost Per Share	$ 1.77	$ 2.07
EBC Family Trust [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction			4,000
Star Asia Manager [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Ownership percentage of equity method affiliate	100.00%		100.00%		50.00%
Star Asia Special Situations Fund [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Reorganization Of Equity Method Investee					1,841
Payments to Acquire Other Investments						302
TBBK [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	46,275		46,275	6,445
Investments / advances				26
Interest Expense, Related Party				396
Cash and cash equivalents	86		86	52
Investment Banking Revenue			174
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Balance, Shares					2,400
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, at Fair Value					26
TBBK [Member] \| Net Trading [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Interest Expense, Related Party			461
Mead Park Capital [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	8.00%		8.00%
Interest Expense, Related Party			547	144
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction			9,746
Resource Securities, Inc. [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party							6
Institutional Financial Markets, Inc. [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	8		8	7	140
Subordinated Debt [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	12.00%		12.00%
Contingent convertible senior notes [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	8.00%		8.00%
Contingent convertible senior notes [Member] \| EBC Family Trust [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Related Parties	2,400		2,400
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	8.00%		8.00%
Contingent convertible senior notes [Member] \| Mead Park Capital [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Related Parties	$ 5,848		$ 5,848