Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Nov. 30, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 5,258,809		$ 5,275,480		$ 3,807,558
Cash and securities segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes or deposited with clearing and depository organizations		707,960		578,014
Financial instruments owned, including securities pledged of $13,059,802 and $10,842,051:
Trading assets, at fair value		17,463,256		16,082,676
Available for sale securities		1,409,886		628,075
Available for sale securities				716,561
Total financial instruments owned		18,873,142		16,799,237
Loans to and investments in associated companies		2,417,332		2,066,829
Securities borrowed		6,538,212		7,721,803
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		2,785,758		3,689,559
Receivables		6,287,401		5,419,015
Intangible assets, net and goodwill		1,890,131		2,463,180
Deferred tax asset, net		512,789		743,811
Other assets		1,859,561		2,412,180
Total assets		47,131,095	[1]	47,169,108	[1]	45,071,307
LIABILITIES
Short-term borrowings		387,492		436,215
Trading liabilities, at fair value		9,478,946		8,454,965
Securities loaned		1,838,688		2,843,911
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		8,643,069		8,660,511
Other secured financings		1,534,271		1,029,485
Payables, expense accruals and other liabilities		7,407,030		7,167,666
Long-term debt		7,617,563		7,885,783
Total liabilities	[1]	36,907,059		36,478,536
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Equity, Carrying Amount		19,779		426,593
MEZZANINE EQUITY
Mandatorily redeemable convertible preferred shares		125,000		125,000
EQUITY
Common shares, par value $1 per share, authorized 600,000,000 shares; 307,515,472 and 356,227,038 shares issued and outstanding, after deducting 109,460,774 and 60,165,980 shares held in treasury		307,515		356,227
Additional paid-in capital		3,854,847		4,676,038
Accumulated other comprehensive income		288,286		372,724
Retained earnings		5,610,218		4,700,968
Total Jefferies Financial Group Inc. shareholders' equity		10,060,866		10,105,957
Noncontrolling interests		18,391		33,022
Total equity		10,079,257		10,138,979		$ 10,303,649	$ 10,465,890
Total		$ 47,131,095		$ 47,169,108

[1] Total assets include assets related to variable interest entities of $704.4 million and $382.9 million at November 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, and Total liabilities include liabilities related to variable interest entities of $1,535.8 million and $1,031.0 million at November 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. See Note 10 for additional information related to variable interest entities.