Receivables From Customers, Net and Notes Receivable, Net (Notes)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

Receivables from customers and notes receivable, net [Abstract]

Financing Receivables [Text Block]

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The allowance for doubtful accounts related to receivables from customers was $7.8 million and $7.6 million as of March 31, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively. The allowance for doubtful accounts related to deposits with and receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations, and counterparties was $48.1 million and $47.0 million as of March 31, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively.

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company recorded bad debt expense of $0.2 million. The bad debt expense was primarily related to a precious metals customer trading account deficit in the Company’s Physical Commodities segment, partially offset by bad debt recoveries in the Physical Commodities and Commercial Hedging segments. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company recorded bad debt expense of $1.3 million, primarily related to LME Metals customer deficits in the Company’s Commercial Hedging Segment.

During the six months ended March 31, 2018, the Company recorded bad debt expense of $1.3 million. The provision for bad debts was primarily related an additional provision of $1.0 million related to a bad debt in the physical coal business for amounts due to the Company from a coal supplier for demurrage and other charges related to contracts with delivery dates subsequent to September 30, 2017. During the six months ended March 31, 2017, the Company recorded bad debt expense of $3.8 million, primarily related to LME Metals customer deficits in the Company’s Commercial Hedging Segment.