CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Treasury Stock	Deferred Compensation
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 328,985	$ 1,251	$ 411,633	$ (83,142)	$ (1,291)	$ 534
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009		125,056,247			(669,084)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of common stock for stock-based compensation		59	(59)
Issuance of common stock for stock-based compensation (in shares)	5,900,000	5,875,577
Common stock issued into treasury to satisfy share based compensation exercises and vesting		2			(2)
Common stock issued into treasury to satisfy share based compensation exercises and vesting (in shares)		180,719			(180,719)
Common stock issued for grants of restricted stock		0	0
Common stock issued for grants of restricted stock (in shares)		0
Amortization of stock-based compensation	41,890		41,890
Reclassification of prior year liability classified stock-based compensation upon issuance of awards	1,499		1,499
Net tax benefits/(shortfalls) related to stock-based compensation	308		308
Issuance of treasury stock for restricted stock grants, restricted stock unit settlements and option exercises			(5,213)		5,213
Issuance of treasury stock for restricted stock grants, restricted stock unit settlements and option exercises (in shares)					2,462,846
Forfeitures of restricted stock			2,533		(2,533)
Forfeitures of restricted stock (in shares)					(1,210,560)
Shares withheld for minimum withholding taxes for vested restricted stock, restricted stock units and options exercises	(6,734)		(4,699)		(2,035)
Shares withheld for minimum withholding taxes for vested restricted stock, restricted stock units and options exercises (in shares)					(670,802)
Settlement of contingent consideration related to the American Technology Holdings, Inc. acquisition (Refer to Note 28)	1,517	3	1,514
Settlement of contingent consideration related to the American Technology Holdings, Inc. acquisition (in shares) (Refer to Note 28)		345,043
Shares reclaimed from escrow - Gleacher Partners, Inc. indemnification (Refer to Note 28)	(685)				(685)
Shares reclaimed from escrow - Gleacher Partners, Inc. indemnification (in shares) (Refer to Note 28)	300,000				(308,701)
Shares returned as excess collateral from clearing broker			189		(189)
Shares returned as excess collateral from clearing broker (in shares)	100,000				(105,066)
Distributions of deferred compensation related to the employee stock trust			159		99	(258)
Distributions of deferred compensation related to the employee stock trust (in shares)					64,368
Net loss	(20,621)			(20,621)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	346,159	1,315	449,754	(103,763)	(1,423)	276
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010		131,457,586			(647,718)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of common stock for stock-based compensation		22	(22)
Issuance of common stock for stock-based compensation (in shares)	2,300,000	2,257,200
Purchases of treasury stock	(18,898)				(18,898)
Purchases of treasury stock (in shares)					(11,935,513)
Common stock issued into treasury to satisfy share based compensation exercises and vesting				0
Amortization of stock-based compensation	15,074		15,074
Reclassification of prior year liability classified stock-based compensation upon issuance of awards	12,446		12,446
Net tax benefits/(shortfalls) related to stock-based compensation	(5,480)		(5,480)
Issuance of treasury stock for restricted stock grants, restricted stock unit settlements and option exercises			(4,763)		4,763
Issuance of treasury stock for restricted stock grants, restricted stock unit settlements and option exercises (in shares)					2,401,443
Forfeitures of restricted stock			1,514		(1,514)
Forfeitures of restricted stock (in shares)					(1,055,200)
Shares withheld for minimum withholding taxes for vested restricted stock, restricted stock units and options exercises	(7,601)		(4,907)		(2,694)
Shares withheld for minimum withholding taxes for vested restricted stock, restricted stock units and options exercises (in shares)					(1,613,139)
Payment of expenses to purchase treasury stock	(257)				(257)
Shares reclaimed from escrow - Gleacher Partners, Inc. indemnification (Refer to Note 28)					0
Distributions of deferred compensation related to the employee stock trust			77		38	(115)
Distributions of deferred compensation related to the employee stock trust (in shares)					18,942
Other	(196)		(196)
Net loss	(82,124)			(82,124)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	259,123	1,337	463,497	(185,887)	(19,985)	161
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	133,714,786	133,714,786			(12,831,185)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of common stock for stock-based compensation (in shares)	0
Purchases of treasury stock	(1,151)				(1,151)
Purchases of treasury stock (in shares)					(1,329,400)
Amortization of stock-based compensation	6,800		6,800
Net tax benefits/(shortfalls) related to stock-based compensation	(377)		(377)
Issuance of treasury stock for restricted stock grants, restricted stock unit settlements and option exercises			(15,856)		15,856
Issuance of treasury stock for restricted stock grants, restricted stock unit settlements and option exercises (in shares)					10,481,753
Forfeitures of restricted stock			4,199		(4,199)
Forfeitures of restricted stock (in shares)					(4,728,578)
Clawback of certain stock-based compensation grants subject to non-competition provisions	(2,630)		(2,630)
Shares withheld for minimum withholding taxes for vested restricted stock, restricted stock units and options exercises	(3,005)		(1,695)		(1,310)
Shares withheld for minimum withholding taxes for vested restricted stock, restricted stock units and options exercises (in shares)					(925,402)
Payment of expenses to purchase treasury stock	(75)				(75)
Distributions of deferred compensation related to the employee stock trust					37	(37)
Distributions of deferred compensation related to the employee stock trust (in shares)					4,248
Other (in shares)		54,433
Net loss	(77,690)			(77,690)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 180,995	$ 1,337	$ 453,938	$ (263,577)	$ (10,827)	$ 124
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	133,769,219	133,769,219			(9,328,564)