Segment Reporting - Net Revenues, Expenses and Total Assets by Segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015	Nov. 30, 2015
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ 654,450	$ 578,928	$ 1,672,845	$ 1,962,154
Expenses	573,728	571,835	1,739,402	1,857,465
Segment assets	38,127,677		38,127,677		$ 38,563,972
Capital Markets [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net revenues	641,900	565,100	1,601,600	1,916,700
Expenses	558,200	564,500	1,693,600	1,829,300
Segment assets	37,305,700		37,305,700		37,804,900
Asset management [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net revenues	12,600	13,800	71,200	45,500
Expenses	15,500	$ 7,300	45,800	$ 28,200
Segment assets	$ 821,900		$ 821,900		$ 759,000