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.

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A comprehensive guide to the City - its markets, mechanisms and players. 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.