Covid outbreak at Jefferies casts a pall over US banks' return to office

Investment bank Jefferies Financial Group on Wednesday asked staff to work from home again due to a spate of COVID-19 cases, raising questions about banks' efforts to return to business as usual.

U.S. banks have been more assertive than other industries in encouraging employees back to the office, but those plans have come under renewed scrutiny due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.

Jefferies said it was also cancelling client parties and virtually all travel. The firm's disclosure prompted speculation about whether other banks will follow suit.

"Those financial institutions and Wall Street firms that believed there will