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New York holds top spot, London second in Z/Yen financial centre survey

Published by Uma Rajagopal

Posted on March 23, 2023

2 min read

· Last updated: February 2, 2026

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People walking on Wall Street, symbolizing New York's top financial ranking - Global Banking & Finance Review
This image captures the bustling activity on Wall Street, New York, reinforcing its status as the top global financial centre, as highlighted in the Z/Yen survey.
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LONDON (Reuters) – New York kept the top spot in the latest rankings of global financial centres from Z/Yen Group on Thursday, with London and Singapore also unchanged in second and third place. New York overtook London to head the table in September 2018 — two years after Britain voted to leave the European Union […]

LONDON (Reuters) – New York kept the top spot in the latest rankings of global financial centres from Z/ Yen Group on Thursday, with London and Singapore also unchanged in second and third place.

New York overtook London to head the table in September 2018 — two years after Britain voted to leave the European Union — but London has retained its second place ranking since then, despite some predicting it could take a heavy knock from Brexit.

“New York retains a significant first position, and five other U.S. centres are in the top 10,” Z/ Yen chairman Michael Mainelli said in a statement.

Finance industry officials worried about London’s global reputation as a financial centre after the Bank of England had to step in last September to buy government bonds to stop a rout in prices.

Markets had been unnerved by a government announcement of unfunded tax cuts.

“London has maintained its position, showing its strengths in finance, despite Brexit and other politically induced uncertainties,” Mainelli said.

The twice-yearly survey rates 120 financial centres combining 61,449 assessments from 10,252 financial professionals with quantitative data.

New York retains its leading position in the Fintech ranking, followed by San Francisco, with London moving up one place to third, while Shenzhen rose three places to fourth, Z/ Yen said.

(Reporting by Huw Jones; Editing by Alison Williams)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a financial centre?
A financial centre is a location where a significant concentration of financial institutions and services are located, facilitating banking, investment, and trading activities.
What is Brexit?
Brexit refers to the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union, which was finalized on January 31, 2020, impacting trade, regulations, and financial markets.
What is fintech?
Fintech, or financial technology, refers to the integration of technology into offerings by financial services companies to improve their use of financial services.
What is investment?
Investment is the act of allocating resources, usually money, in order to generate income or profit. It can involve purchasing assets like stocks, bonds, or real estate.

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