London - The World Capital?

A recent site visit proved insightful after conversing with a gentleman from a US asset management firm with a new London office in WC2.

Citing reasons such as being at the centre of international time zones, providing easy access to European capitals, Moscow and Dubai, and having a good trading environment, he said that London is increasingly attractive for financial firms looking to relocate. The last reference being to the excessive regulation in the US after the recent accounting scandals such as Enron and Worldcom. He thinks the US knee-jerk reaction has gone too far and more financial firms will start trading from a London office.

The claim, in a recent article by James Harding, Times journalist, which sparked much debate, that London is the world capital may not be far-fetched after all!