Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Nov. 30, 2011	Nov. 30, 2010
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 2,393,797	$ 2,188,998
Cash and securities segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes or deposited with clearing and depository organizations	3,344,960	1,636,755
Financial instruments owned, at fair value, including securities pledged of $12,452,970 and $12,338,728 in 2011 and 2010, respectively:
Corporate equity securities	1,235,079	1,565,793
Corporate debt securities	2,868,304	3,630,616
Government, federal agency and other sovereign obligations	7,471,563	5,191,973
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities	3,923,303	4,921,565
Loans and other receivables	376,146	434,573
Derivatives	525,893	119,268
Investments, at fair value	105,585	77,784
Physical commodities	172,668	0
Total financial instruments owned, at fair value	16,678,541	15,941,572
Investments in managed funds	70,740	131,585
Loans to and investments in related parties	594,538	220,323
Securities borrowed	5,169,689	8,152,678
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	2,893,043	3,252,322
Securities received as collateral	21,862	48,616
Receivables:
Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	1,235,393	2,550,234
Customers	1,116,982	1,328,365
Fees, interest and other	163,092	165,603
Premises and equipment	175,139	142,729
Goodwill	365,574	364,964
Other assets	748,072	601,799
Total assets	34,971,422	36,726,543
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Short-term borrowing	52,721	0
Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, at fair value:
Corporate equity securities	1,330,096	1,638,372
Corporate debt securities	1,614,493	2,375,925
Government, federal agency and other sovereign obligations	3,209,713	4,735,288
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities	50,517	129,384
Loans	151,117	171,278
Derivatives	249,037	59,552
Total financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	6,604,973	9,109,799
Securities loaned	1,706,308	3,108,977
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	9,620,663	10,684,056
Obligation to return securities received as collateral	21,862	48,616
Payables:
Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	2,816,877	1,885,357
Customers	4,763,364	3,716,357
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	803,219	1,142,850
Long-term debt	4,608,926	3,778,681
Mandatorily redeemable convertible preferred stock	125,000	125,000
Mandatorily redeemable preferred interest of consolidated subsidiaries	310,534	315,885
Total liabilities	31,434,447	33,915,578
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock, $.0001 par value. Authorized 500,000,000 shares; issued 197,197,848 shares in 2011 and 200,301,656 shares in 2010	20	20
Additional paid-in capital	2,207,410	2,218,123
Retained earnings	1,067,858	850,654
Less: Treasury stock, at cost, 37,842 shares in 2011 and 28,607,510 shares in 2010	(486)	(539,530)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Currency translation adjustments	(39,520)	(42,859)
Additional minimum pension liability	(10,970)	(8,419)
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss	(50,490)	(51,278)
Total common stockholders' equity	3,224,312	2,477,989
Noncontrolling interests	312,663	332,976
Total stockholders' equity	3,536,975	2,810,965
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	34,971,422	36,726,543
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	345,959	202,565
Financial instruments owned, at fair value, including securities pledged of $12,452,970 and $12,338,728 in 2011 and 2010, respectively:
Corporate equity securities	61,670	120,606
Corporate debt securities	326,549	462,462
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities	41,004	43,355
Loans and other receivables	281,416	362,465
Derivatives	569	7,579
Investments, at fair value	1,570	15,612
Total financial instruments owned, at fair value	712,778	1,012,079
Receivables:
Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	150,592	195,485
Fees, interest and other	7,396	127
Other assets	385	370
Total assets	1,217,110	1,410,626
Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, at fair value:
Corporate equity securities	7,122	2,708
Corporate debt securities	200,223	443,100
Loans	117,958	150,100
Derivatives	935	136
Total financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	326,238	596,044
Payables:
Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	105,165	157,134
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	9,740	94,402
Mandatorily redeemable preferred interest of consolidated subsidiaries	310,534	315,885
Total liabilities	$ 751,677	$ 1,163,465