Fair Value Disclosures (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule Of Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis At Fair Value

The following is a summary of our financial instruments, trading liabilities and long-term debt that are accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis, excluding Investments at fair value based on NAV (within trading assets) of $20.2 million and $24.3 million, respectively, by level within the fair value hierarchy at December 31, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands):

	December 31, 2017
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Counterparty and Cash Collateral Netting (1)			Total
Assets:
Trading assets, at fair value:
Corporate equity securities	$	2,975,463	$	60,300	$	22,270	$	—		$	3,058,033
Corporate debt securities	—		3,261,300		26,036		—			3,287,336
Collateralized debt obligations and collateralized loan obligations	—		139,166		42,184		—			181,350
U.S. government and federal agency securities	1,269,230		39,443		—		—			1,308,673
Municipal securities	—		710,513		—		—			710,513
Sovereign obligations	1,381,552		1,035,907		—		—			2,417,459
Residential mortgage-backed securities	—		1,453,294		26,077		—			1,479,371
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	—		508,115		12,419		—			520,534
Other asset-backed securities	—		217,111		61,129		—			278,240
Loans and other receivables	—		1,620,581		47,304		—			1,667,885
Derivatives	165,396		3,323,278		9,295		(3,318,481		)	179,488
Investments at fair value	—		946		329,944		—			330,890
FXCM term loan	—		—		72,800		—			72,800
Total trading assets, excluding investments at fair value based on NAV	$	5,791,641	$	12,369,954	$	649,458	$	(3,318,481	)	$	15,492,572
Available for sale securities:
Corporate equity securities	$	88,486	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	88,486
U.S. government securities	552,805		—		—		—			552,805
Residential mortgage-backed securities	—		34,561		—		—			34,561
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	—		5,870		—		—			5,870
Other asset-backed securities	—		34,839		—		—			34,839
Total available for sale securities	$	641,291	$	75,270	$	—	$	—		$	716,561
Liabilities:
Trading liabilities:
Corporate equity securities	$	1,721,267	$	32,122	$	48	$	—		$	1,753,437
Corporate debt securities	—		1,688,825		522		—			1,689,347
U.S. government and federal agency securities	1,430,737		—		—		—			1,430,737
Sovereign obligations	1,216,643		956,992		—		—			2,173,635
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	—		—		105		—			105
Loans	—		1,148,824		3,486		—			1,152,310
Derivatives	249,361		3,480,506		16,041		(3,490,514		)	255,394
Total trading liabilities	$	4,618,008	$	7,307,269	$	20,202	$	(3,490,514	)	$	8,454,965
Short-term borrowings	$	—	$	23,324	$	—	$	—		$	23,324
Long-term debt	$	—	$	606,956	$	—	$	—		$	606,956

	December 31, 2016
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Counterparty and Cash Collateral Netting (1)			Total
Assets:
Trading assets, at fair value:
Corporate equity securities	$	2,522,977	$	92,839	$	21,739	$	—		$	2,637,555
Corporate debt securities	—		2,675,020		25,005		—			2,700,025
Collateralized debt obligations and collateralized loan obligations	—		54,306		54,354		—			108,660
U.S. government and federal agency securities	2,389,397		56,726		—		—			2,446,123
Municipal securities	—		708,469		27,257		—			735,726
Sovereign obligations	1,432,556		990,492		—		—			2,423,048
Residential mortgage-backed securities	—		960,494		38,772		—			999,266
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	—		296,405		20,580		—			316,985
Other asset-backed securities	—		63,587		40,911		—			104,498
Loans and other receivables	—		1,557,233		81,872		—			1,639,105
Derivatives	3,825		4,616,822		6,429		(4,255,998		)	371,078
Investments at fair value	—		—		314,359		—			314,359
FXCM term loan	—		—		164,500		—			164,500
Total trading assets, excluding investments at fair value based on NAV	$	6,348,755	$	12,072,393	$	795,778	$	(4,255,998	)	$	14,960,928
Available for sale securities:
Corporate equity securities	$	79,425	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	79,425
Corporate debt securities	—		179		—		—			179
U.S. government securities	174,933		—		—		—			174,933
Residential mortgage-backed securities	—		19,133		—		—			19,133
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	—		8,337		—		—			8,337
Other asset-backed securities	—		19,042		—		—			19,042
Total available for sale securities	$	254,358	$	46,691	$	—	$	—		$	301,049
Liabilities:
Trading liabilities:
Corporate equity securities	$	1,593,548	$	16,806	$	313	$	—		$	1,610,667
Corporate debt securities	—		1,718,424		523		—			1,718,947
U.S. government and federal agency securities	976,497		—		—		—			976,497
Sovereign obligations	1,375,590		1,253,754		—		—			2,629,344
Loans	—		801,977		378		—			802,355
Derivatives	2,566		4,867,586		9,870		(4,229,213		)	650,809
Total trading liabilities	$	3,948,201	$	8,658,547	$	11,084	$	(4,229,213	)	$	8,388,619
Other secured financings	$	—	$	41,350	$	418	$	—		$	41,768
Long-term debt	$	—	$	248,856	$	—	$	—		$	248,856

(1) Represents counterparty and cash collateral netting across the levels of the fair value hierarchy for positions with the same counterparty.

Investments Measured At Fair Value Based On Net Asset Value

The following tables present information about our investments in entities that have the characteristics of an investment company (in thousands).

	Fair Value (1)		Unfunded Commitments		Redemption Frequency (if currently eligible)
December 31, 2017
Equity Long/Short Hedge Funds (2)	$	407,895	$	—	(2)
Fixed Income and High Yield Hedge Funds (3)	417		—		—
Fund of Funds (4)	189		—		—
Equity Funds (5)	26,798		19,084		—
Multi-asset Fund (6)	154,805		—		—
Total	$	590,104	$	19,084
December 31, 2016
Equity Long/Short Hedge Funds (2)	$	363,256	$	—	(2)
Fixed Income and High Yield Hedge Funds (3)	772		—		—
Fund of Funds (4)	230		—		—
Equity Funds (5)	42,179		20,295		—
Multi-asset Fund (6)	133,190		—		—
Total	$	539,627	$	20,295

(1) Where fair value is calculated based on NAV, fair value has been derived from each of the funds' capital statements.

(2) This category includes investments in hedge funds that invest, long and short, in primarily equity securities in domestic and international markets in both the public and private sectors. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, 73% and 83%, respectively, of these investments are redeemable with 10 business days or less prior written notice, and 15% and 17%, respectively, are redeemable with 30 to 60 days prior written notice.

(3) This category includes investments in funds that invest in loans secured by a first trust deed on property, domestic and international public high yield debt, private high yield investments, senior bank loans, public leveraged equities, distressed debt and private equity investments. There are no redemption provisions. 

(4) This category includes investments in fund of funds that invest in various private equity funds. The investments in this category are managed by us and have no redemption provisions. These investments are gradually being liquidated or we have requested redemption, however, we are unable to estimate when these funds will be received.

(5) The investments in this category include investments in equity funds that invest in the equity of various U.S. and foreign private companies in the energy, technology, internet service and telecommunication service industries. These investments cannot be redeemed; instead distributions are received through the liquidation of the underlying assets of the funds, which are expected to liquidate in one to six years. 

(6) This category includes investments in hedge funds that invest, long and short, primarily in multi-asset securities in domestic and international markets in both the public and private sectors. At both December 31, 2017 and 2016, investments representing approximately 12% of the fair value of investments in this category are redeemable with 30 days prior written notice.

Summary Of Changes In Fair Value Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Classified As Level 3

The following is a summary of changes in fair value of our financial assets and liabilities that have been categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy for the year ended December 31, 2017 (in thousands):

Year Ended December 31, 2017
	Balance, December 31, 2016		Total gains (losses) (realized and unrealized) (1)			Purchases			Sales			Settlements			Issuances		Net transfers into (out of) Level 3			Balance at December 31, 2017		Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to instruments still held at December 31, 2017 (1)
Assets:
Trading assets:
Corporate equity securities	$	21,739	$	3,353		$	896		$	(1,623	)	$	52		$	—	$	(2,147	)	$	22,270	$	2,606
Corporate debt securities	25,005		(3,723		)	36,850			(34,077		)	(1,968		)	—		3,949			26,036		(3,768		)
CDOs and CLOs	54,354		(27,238		)	112,239			(101,226		)	(367		)	—		4,422			42,184		(20,262		)
Municipal securities	27,257		(1,547		)	—			(25,710		)	—			—		—			—		—
Residential mortgage-backed securities	38,772		(10,817		)	6,805			(26,193		)	(115		)	—		17,625			26,077		(7,201		)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	20,580		(5,346		)	3,275			(5,263		)	(1,018		)	—		191			12,419		(6,976		)
Other asset-backed securities	40,911		(17,705		)	77,508			(8,613		)	(25,799		)	—		(5,173		)	61,129		(12,562		)
Loans and other receivables	81,872		24,794			63,768			(53,095		)	(34,622		)	—		(35,413		)	47,304		17,451
Investments at fair value	314,359		20,975			18,528			(22,818		)	(1,100		)	—		—			329,944		22,999
Investment in FXCM	164,500		23,161			—			—			(114,861		)	—		—			72,800		1,070
Liabilities:
Trading liabilities:
Corporate equity securities	$	313	$	60		$	(373	)	$	48		$	—		$	—	$	—		$	48	$	—
Corporate debt securities	523		(1		)	—			—			—			—		—			522		1
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	—		105			—			—			—			—		—			105		(105		)
Net derivatives (2)	3,441		(1,638		)	—			—			5,558			456		(1,071		)	6,746		(17,740		)
Loans	378		196			(385		)	2,485			—			—		812			3,486		(2,639		)
Other secured financings	418		(418		)	—			—			—			—		—			—		—

(1) Realized and unrealized gains (losses) are reported in Principal transactions in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(2) Net derivatives represent Trading assets - Derivatives and Trading liabilities - Derivatives.

The following is a summary of changes in fair value of our financial assets and liabilities that have been categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy for the year ended December 31, 2015 (in thousands).

Year Ended December 31, 2015
	Balance, December 31, 2014			Total gains (losses) (realized and unrealized) (1)			Purchases			Sales			Settlements			Issuances		Net transfers into (out of) Level 3			Balance at December 31, 2015			Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to instruments still held at December 31, 2015 (1)
Assets:
Trading assets:
Corporate equity securities	$	20,964		$	11,154		$	21,385		$	(6,391	)	$	—		$	—	$	(6,206	)	$	40,906		$	11,424
Corporate debt securities	22,766			(11,013		)	21,534			(14,636		)	—			—		7,225			25,876			(9,443		)
CDOs and CLOs	124,650			(66,332		)	104,998			(107,381		)	(5,754		)	—		34,911			85,092			(48,514		)
Municipal securities	—			10			—			—			(21,551		)	—		21,541			—			—
Sovereign Obligations	—			47			1,032			(1,031		)	—			—		72			120			39
Residential mortgage-backed securities	82,557			(12,951		)	18,961			(31,762		)	(597		)	—		14,055			70,263			(4,498		)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	26,655			(3,813		)	3,480			(10,146		)	(6,861		)	—		5,011			14,326			(3,205		)
Other asset-backed securities	2,294			(990		)	42,922			(1,299		)	(2		)	—		—			42,925			(254		)
Loans and other receivables	97,258			(14,755		)	792,345			(576,536		)	(124,365		)	—		15,342			189,289			(16,802		)
Investments at fair value	77,047			62,804			5,510			(425		)	(4,093		)	—		58,951			199,794			(1,964		)
Investments in FXCM	—			491,341			279,000			—			(144,652		)	—		—			625,689			491,341
Liabilities:
Trading liabilities:
Corporate equity securities	$	38		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—	$	—		$	38		$	—
Corporate debt securities	223			(110		)	(6,804		)	6,691			—			—		—			—			—
Net derivatives (2)	(4,638		)	(7,310		)	(6,705		)	13,522			37			2,437		2,415			(242		)	4,754
Loans	14,450			(163		)	(2,059		)	229			—			—		(1,988		)	10,469			104
Other secured financings	30,825			—			—			—			(15,704		)	36,995		(51,572		)	544			—

(1) Realized and unrealized gains (losses) are reported in Principal transactions in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(2) Net derivatives represent Trading assets - Derivatives and Trading liabilities - Derivatives.

The following is a summary of changes in fair value of our financial assets and liabilities that have been categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy for the year ended December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

Year Ended December 31, 2016
	Balance, December 31, 2015			Total gains (losses) (realized and unrealized) (1)			Purchases		Sales			Settlements			Issuances		Net transfers into (out of) Level 3			Balance at December 31 ,2016		Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to instruments still held at December 31, 2016 (1)
Assets:
Trading assets:
Corporate equity securities	$	40,906		$	(8,463	)	$	3,365	$	(49	)	$	(671	)	$	—	$	(13,349	)	$	21,739	$	291
Corporate debt securities	25,876			(16,230		)	27,242		(29,347		)	(7,223		)	—		24,687			25,005		(18,799		)
CDOs and CLOS	85,092			(14,918		)	52,316		(69,394		)	(2,750		)	—		4,008			54,354		(7,628		)
Municipal securities	—			(1,462		)	—		—			—			—		28,719			27,257		(1,462		)
Sovereign obligations	120			5			—		(125		)	—			—		—			—		—
Residential mortgage backed securities	70,263			(9,612		)	623		(12,249		)	(931		)	—		(9,322		)	38,772		(1,095		)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	14,326			(7,550		)	3,132		(2,024		)	(2,229		)	—		14,925			20,580		(7,243		)
Other asset-backed securities	42,925			(14,381		)	133,986		(102,952		)	(8,769		)	—		(9,898		)	40,911		(18,056		)
Loans and other receivables	189,289			(42,566		)	75,264		(69,262		)	(46,851		)	—		(24,002		)	81,872		(52,003		)
Investments at fair value	199,794			54,538			29,728		(542		)	(1,107		)	—		31,948			314,359		54,608
Investment in FXCM (2)	625,689			(54,634		)	—		—			(406,555		)	—		—			164,500		(1,014		)
Liabilities:
Trading liabilities:
Corporate equity securities	$	38		$	—		$	—	$	313		$	(38	)	$	—	$	—		$	313	$	—
Corporate debt securities	—			(27		)	—		550			—			—		—			523		—
Net derivatives (3)	(242		)	(1,760		)	—		11,101			31			2,067		(7,756		)	3,441		(6,458		)
Loans	10,469			—			—		378			—			—		(10,469		)	378		—
Other secured financings	544			(126		)	—		—			—			—		—			418		(126		)

(1) Realized and unrealized gains (losses) are reported in Principal transactions in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(2) Includes $334.5 million related to the settlement of our participation rights for equity ownership in FXCM on September 1, 2016. We classify the equity ownership as a Loan to and investment in associated company at December 31, 2017 and 2016.

(3) Net derivatives represent Trading assets - Derivatives and Trading liabilities - Derivatives.

Quantitative Information About Significant Unobservable Inputs Used In Level 3 Fair Value Measurements

December 31, 2017
Financial Instruments Owned	Fair Value (in thousands)		Valuation  Technique	Significant Unobservable Input(s)	Input/Range	Weighted Average
Corporate equity securities	$	18,109
Non-exchange traded securities			Market approach	Price	$3 to $75	$33.0
				Underlying stock price	$6	—
			Comparable pricing	Comparable asset price	$7	—
Corporate debt securities	$	26,036	Convertible bond model	Discount rate/yield	8%	—
				Volatility	40%	—
			Market approach	Estimated recovery percentage	17%	—
				Price	$10	—
CDOs and CLOs	$	38,845	Discounted cash flows	Constant prepayment rate	20%	—
				Constant default rate	2%	—
				Loss severity	25% to 30%	26	%
				Discount rate/yield	3% to 26%	12	%
			Scenario analysis	Estimated recovery percentage	8% to 45%	26	%
Residential mortgage-backed securities	$	26,077	Discounted cash flows	Cumulative loss rate	3% to 19%	10	%
				Duration (years)	2 years to 4 years	3
				Discount rate/yield	6% to 10%	8	%
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	$	12,419	Discounted cash flows	Discount rate/yield	2% to 26%	12	%
				Cumulative loss rate	8% to 65%	44	%
				Duration (years)	1 year to 3 years	2
			Scenario analysis	Estimated recovery percentage	26% to 32%	28	%
				Price	$52 to $56	$54.0
Other asset-backed securities	$	61,129	Discounted cash flows	Cumulative loss rate	0% to 33%	23	%
				Duration (years)	1 year to 6 years	2
				Discount rate/yield	5% to 39%	9	%
			Market approach	Price	$100	—
			Scenario analysis	Estimated recovery percentage	14%	—
Loans and other receivables	$	46,121	Market approach	Estimated recovery percentage	76%	—
				Price	$54 to $100	$95.0
			Scenario analysis	Estimated recovery percentage	13% to 107%	78	%
Derivatives	$	9,295
Total return swaps			Market approach	Price	$101 to $106	$103.0
Interest rate swaps			Market approach	Credit spread	800 bps	—
Investments at fair value	$	110,010
Private equity securities			Market approach	Transaction Level	$3 to $250	$172.0
				Price	$7	—
				Discount rate	20%	—
Investment in FXCM	$	72,800
Term loan			Discounted cash flows	Term based on the pay off (years)	0 months to 1 year	0.2 years
Trading Liabilities	Fair Value (in thousands)		Valuation  Technique	Significant Unobservable Input(s)	Input/Range	Weighted Average
Derivatives	$	16,041
Equity options			Option model/default rate	Default probability	0%	—
Unfunded commitments			Market approach	Price	$99	—
Total return swaps			Market approach	Price	$101 to $106	$103.0
Variable funding note swaps			Discounted cash flows	Constant prepayment rate	20%	—
				Constant default rate	2%	—
				Loss severity	25%	—
				Discount rate/yield	26%	—

December 31, 2016
Financial Instruments Owned	Fair Value (in thousands)		Valuation  Technique	Significant Unobservable Input(s)	Input/Range	Weighted Average
Corporate equity securities	$	19,799
Non-exchange traded securities			Market approach	Underlying stock price	$3 to $75	$15.0
			Comparable pricing	Underlying stock price	$218	—
				Comparable asset price	$11	—
			Present value	Average silver production (tons per day)	666	—
Corporate debt securities	$	25,005	Convertible bond model	Discount rate/yield	9%	—
				Volatility	40%	—
			Market approach	Transaction level	$30	—
CDOs and CLOs	$	33,016	Discounted cash flows	Constant prepayment rate	10% to 20%	19	%
				Constant default rate	2% to 4%	2	%
				Loss severity	25% to 70%	40	%
				Yield	7% to 17%	12	%
			Scenario analysis	Estimated recovery percentage	28% to 38%	31	%
Residential mortgage-backed securities	$	38,772	Discounted cash flows	Constant prepayment rate	0% to 11%	5	%
				Constant default rate	1% to 7%	3	%
				Loss severity	35% to 100%	62	%
				Yield	2% to 10%	6	%
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	$	20,580	Discounted cash flows	Yield	6% to 11%	8	%
				Cumulative loss rate	5% to 95%	39	%
Other asset-backed securities	$	40,911	Discounted cash flows	Constant prepayment rate	4% to 20%	14	%
				Constant default rate	0% to 31%	13	%
				Loss severity	0% to 100%	90	%
				Yield	4% to 17%	15	%
			Market approach	Price	$72	—
Loans and other receivables	$	54,347	Market approach	Discount rate/yield	2% to 4%	3	%
				EBITDA (a) multiple	3.3	—
				Transaction level	$0.42	—
			Present value	Average silver production (tons per day)	666	—
			Scenario analysis	Estimated recovery percentage	6% to 50%	37	%
Derivatives	$	6,429
Equity swaps			Comparable pricing	Comparable asset price	$102	—
Credit default swaps			Market approach	Credit spread	265 bps	—
Investments at fair value	$	67,383
Private equity securities			Market approach	Transaction Level	$250	—
				Price	$25,815,720	—
				Discount rate	15% to 30%	23	%
Investment in FXCM	$	164,500
Term loan			Discounted cash flows	Term based on the pay off (years)	0 months to 0.5 years	0.4 years
Trading Liabilities	Fair Value (in thousands)		Valuation  Technique	Significant Unobservable Input(s)	Input/Range	Weighted Average
Derivatives	$	9,870
Equity options			Option model	Volatility	45%	—
			Default rate	Default probability	0%	—
Equity swaps			Comparable pricing	Comparable asset price	$102	—
Unfunded commitments			Market approach	Discount rate/yield	4%	—
Variable funding note swaps			Discounted cash flows	Constant prepayment rate	20%	—
				Constant default rate	2%	—
				Loss severity	25%	—
				Yield	16%	—

(a) Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”).

Summary Of Gains (Losses) Due To Changes In Instrument Specific Credit Risk For Loans and Other Receivables And Loan Commitments Measured At Fair Value Under Fair Value Option

The following is a summary of Jefferies gains (losses) due to changes in instrument specific credit risk on loans, other receivables and debt instruments and gains (losses) due to other changes in fair value on long-term debt and short-term borrowings measured at fair value under the fair value option for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):

	2017			2016			2015
Financial instruments owned:
Loans and other receivables	$	22,088		$	(68,812	)	$	(17,389	)
Financial instruments sold:
Loans	$	—		$	9		$	(162	)
Loan commitments	$	230		$	5,509		$	7,502
Long-term debt:
Changes in instrument specific credit risk (1)	$	(34,609	)	$	(10,745	)	$	—
Other changes in fair value (2)	$	47,291		$	30,995		$	—
Short-term borrowings:
Other changes in fair value (2)	$	(681	)	$	—		$	—

(1) Changes in instrument specific credit risk related to structured notes are included in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of taxes.

(2) Other changes in fair value are included within Principal transactions revenues in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Summary Of Amount By Which Contractual Principal Exceeds Fair Value For Loans And Other Receivables Measured At Fair Value Under Fair Value Option

The following is a summary of the amount by which contractual principal exceeds fair value for loans and other receivables and long-term debt measured at fair value under the fair value option (in thousands):

	December 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Financial instruments owned:
Loans and other receivables (1)	$	752,076	$	1,325,938
Loans and other receivables on nonaccrual status and/or greater than 90 days past due (1) (2)	$	159,462	$	205,746
Long-term debt	$	32,839	$	20,202

(1) Interest income is recognized separately from other changes in fair value and is included within Interest income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(2) Amounts include all loans and other receivables greater than 90 or more days past due by which contractual principal exceeds fair value of $38.7 million and $64.6 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.