Jefferies’ chief executive Rich Handler said that he has spent time with analysts in the bank’s Dallas office following the death of its associate Carter McIntosh, and condemned “venom being spewed on social media”.

Handler said he and the senior management team at Jefferies were “completely sympathetic” to the needs of junior bankers at the firm and have “employed considerable resources to support you” in a lengthy post on his Instagram account and a memo sent to employees.