The City: A Guide to London's Global Financial Centre (The Economist Series)

The City provides reliable, relevant and up-to-date coverage of what goes on in the City, its global importance and its role as a the leading financial centre in Europe. Individual chapters focus on the City's various wholesale international financial markets and institutions - from the money markets to the securities industry, commodities to shipping, the Bank of England to the Financial Services Authority. Other chapters review its historical development and the scandals that have dogged its reputation. Finally, the book looks at the outlook for the City and the challenges it faces - the current downturn, the impact of developments in communications technology and the threat from Wall Street. In addition, there are appendices giving details of City institutions and organisations, profiles of the principal City players and key City events from the late seventeenth century. Designed as a companion to Richard Roberts's earlier Economist guide to Wall Street, The City provides comprehensive, relevant and up-to-date coverage of what goes on in the City and its role as a global financial centre and as the leading financial centre in Europe. Individual chapters focus on the City's various wholesale international financial markets and institutions - from the money markets to the securities industry, commodities to shipping, the Bank of England to the Financial Services Authority. Other chapters review its historical development and the scandals that have dogged its reputation. Finally, the book looks at the outlook for the City and the challenges it faces - the current downturn, the impact of developments in communications technology, the threat from Wall Street, and what difference the euro is making and will make. In addition, there are appendices giving details of City institutions and organisations, profiles of the principal City players, and key City events from the late 17th century Preliminaries......Page 1 Contents......Page 5 1 About the City......Page 9 2 From the Royal Exchange to Canary Wharf......Page 31 3 Financial markets and instruments......Page 73 4 The sell side investment banking and securities......Page 103 5 The buy side investors and asset management......Page 120 6 Banking payments and specialist financial institutions......Page 162 7 Insurance......Page 177 8 Professional and support services......Page 202 9 Shipping and commodities......Page 214 10 Bank of England......Page 221 11 Regulation......Page 231 12 Financial centre league tables......Page 245 13 City scandals and calamities......Page 261 14 Challenges and outlook......Page 294 Appendix 1 City institutions and organisations......Page 303 Appendix 2 Principal players......Page 318 Appendix 3 Key events 1571 2004......Page 329 Further reading......Page 337 Index......Page 340 Essential Reading For City Workers, Policy-makers, Investors And Those Seeking A Well-paid City Career, This Book Explains How Every Facet Of The City Works And Why It Matters.--jacket. About The City -- From The Royal Exchange To Canary Wharf -- Financial Markets And Instruments -- The Sell-side : Investment Banking And Securities -- The Buy-side : Investors And Asset Management -- Banking, Payments, And Specialist Financial Institutions -- Insurance -- Professional And Support Services -- Shipping And Commodities -- Bank Of England -- Regulation -- Financial Centre League Tables -- City Scandals And Calamities -- Challenges And Outlook. Richard Roberts. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 329-331) And Index. 'The City' provides coverage of what goes on in London, its global importance and its role as a leading financial centre in Europe. In addition, there are appendices giving details of city institutions and organisations, profiles of the principle city players and key events from the late 17th century This text provides a comprehensive, relevant and up-to-date coverage of what goes on in the City and its role as a global financial centre and as the leading financial centre in Europe - Finance practitioners, commentators, and observers; anyone relocating to UK - The Economist series presents powerful, clear writing on a topic close to their backyard