So Bloomberg users (aka anyone who works in the Finance and Banking world) voted Singapore second in the “world’s leading global financial center” poll. New York got first place, no surprise. But hey, we beat London by 1%. Not bad for a little kampung city with kick ass tax laws. I think our proximity to ahem, the next hugest economy in the world, and our convenient time zone definitely helped in the grand scheme of things too.

Now all the MAS needs is to figure out a good balance between regulating the financial industry, while keeping the money coming in. That and, deciding on the best way to maintain banking secrecy while screening out those cheap-but-rich-tax-evading-rich-folks.

After seeing plenty of restaurants and delis I wanted to go to the last time I visited the Financial Center, Unnie and I couldn’t want to go there for lunch again.

Originally we had planned to go to Yushi, but since its lunch selection was not ready during our lunch period (which should actually be called “brunch period” since we have the earliest lunch period) so we went to Devon & Blakely instead.

At first I had my doubts that it could possibly surpass Cosi, but man was I really in for a surprise! The turkey wrap I bought was the best I have ever eaten. Although the veggies weren’t as fresh as the ones at Blue Spoon, they were crisp and full of turkey savoriness! It was oozing with a refreshingly delicious vinaigrette, and in between the layer of flour tortillas (it was wrapped around twice), there was a layer of cream cheese, which added a nice creamy touch, complementing the crispness of the veggies and tenderness of the meat. It was amazing.

Amazing Turkey Wrap!

Unnie got a chicken mozzarella tomato sandwich, which I did not taste but looked quite amazing as well. The nice man at the counter heated it up for her. Unnie said it was delicious!

Chicken Mozzarella Tomato Sandwich

Grade: A

Conclusion: Maybe I just ordered the right thing on the first try, but that wrap really left an impression! I would love to come back here again. Finally, fresh healthy sandwiches that actually have taste!! Prices were not bag either; the range was about $5-10 I believe.

Location: Map

(212) 240-7450

Other Opinions:

Yelp Hmm that’s odd…Devon & Blakely doesn’t have as much publicity as I had expected…Well it’s good, so you all should go and write reviews about it!!

The other day Unnie and I rushed down to the World Financial Center by Battery Park for lunch. The Financial Center is a beautiful glassy, classy mall-resembling building dazzling with shops and eateries. There are also a few interesting exhibits like a memorial for those who died in 9/11 represented by grains of rice. It’s a pretty cool place to check out, and I definitely recommend a visit if you’ve never been there!

Since Unnie lives nearby, she has been to the Financial Center a lot more frequently than I have, so she knows all the best places: Yushi, Financier, Devon & Blakely, and Cosi.

Cosi is like an upscale deli, serving sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, coffee, and some baked goods. The way it is organized is similar to a fast food joint like Subways, but the ingredients are fresher, healthier, and tastier. However, Cosi’s sandwiches probably aren’t as fresh as the ones at Blue Spoon. No matter! They are still quite delicious and cheap (around $6-8, just like any other deli). Plus, they throw in a bag of Cosi-produced potato chips, which are crunchier and more flavorful than the typical mass-produced potato chips.

Unnie and I both got sandwiches. She ordered the Meatball Aurora, which she said she loved, especially the melted cheeses (romano and provolone).

Unnie's Meatball Aurora

Since I’m absolutely in love wiht pesto (as I’ve mentioned in a previous entry), I ordered the Tuscan Pesto Chicken. I was disappointed by the lack of pesto in the sandwich, as I was only able to taste the sundried tomato spread (which was quite good, but I still like pesto more). The greens were crisp and fresh (again, better than Subways, not as fresh as Blue Spoon), and the chicken was pretty tender. But what I liked most about the sandwich was the bread. Not too thick, not too thin, crunchy ont he outside, chewy on the inside, just what a good flatbread is supposed to be! Of course, it wasn’t mind-blowing, but it was pretty darn delicious.

My Tuscan Pesto Chicken

Grade: B+/A-

Conclusion: With all the benefits of fast food (fast, cheap), without the heart disease. Cosi’s sandwiches are fresh, clean, and tasty. I would like to try its pizza and salad next time.

Location: Map

(212) 571-2001

Other Opinions:

Yelp (Some of the reviewers here claim that this Cosi is overcrowded; I just want to note that I have not experienced this personally because Unnie and my lunch period is at around 10:30-11:15 AM), Menupages

ロンドンの金融センター、シティはいかめしいビル群だが、そこを通り抜けた一角にセントバーソロミュー・ザ・グレート教会がある。ここには緑の小庭園があり、切った張ったのマーケットの世界に生きるビジネスマンたちにとって、ほっと人心地を感じさせる空間となっている。

今、米国発のリーマンショック金融危機を受けて、シティをはじめ世界の金融街は軒並み底冷えの状態が続いている。そんな中、昨年１１月のワシントン会議に次いで、4月初めに今度はロンドンで、世界主要20カ国（Ｇ20）の首脳が集まって金融サミットが開かれる。

米国は、オバマ政権誕生後、大統領が初めて出席するサミットであり、しかも危機の発生源であるだけに、演説のうまい同大統領がどう発言するか、いやがうえにも注目度は高まっている。

サミットに先立ち、すでにＧ20の財務相・中央銀行総裁会議がこの3月に開催され、対策の方向性は、一応基本合意されているようだ。それは、各国が財政出動をして景気を支える一方、保護主義には走らないよう訴えていくことであろう。

ただ、突っ込んで各国の対応を見ると、経済自由主義の米国、中国、日本と、すでに雇用や社会福祉が整った欧州とは一定の差がある。ＥＵ全体では景気対策を実施すると言うものの、国別の巨額な財政出動にはドイツはじめ消極的であり、むしろ金融システムの強化を求めている。

果たして、今サミットで各国の合意が成り、世界経済は茨の道から、ザ・グレート教会小庭園のような安らぎの空間、つまり回復の礎が見出せるかどうか。（日暮らし）

日経新聞記事
http://www.nikkei.co.jp/news/shasetsu/20090322AS1K2100422032009.html

毎日新聞記事
http://mainichi.jp/select/biz/news/20090320ddm008020085000c.html

ロンドンシティ最古の教会でウェディング
http://www.his-wedding.com/europe/uk/bartholomew/index.htm

San Francisco, California. Una de las ciudades más cosmopolitas, clasistas y coloridas del Nuevo Mundo. Años atrás, el conocido trasfondo histórico de la ciudad estuvo protagonizado por halos de revueltas y progresismo humanitario que hicieron de ella uno de los focos de atención mediática y cultural entre los años 60 y 80 del siglo XX. Tranvías que recorren sus empinadas calles, Chinatown, atmósferas de mezclas heterogéneas de artistas callejeros, escritores e intelectuales de vida taciturna. Bohemia, liberalismo, libertinaje y libertad. Colorido, rojo, amarillo, verde y azul. Blanco y negro. Sueños ácidos, hippismo, psicodelia, distorsión y mucho Beatle, Hendrix y Joplin. Durante el “Summer of Love” de 1967, The Mamas & The Papas te aconsejaban “llevar algunas flores en la cabeza”. San Francisco se convertiría en una de las sedes mundiales principales del nuevo pensamiento en contra de la Guerra de Vietnam, contra el conservadurismo político y social y a favor de los derechos de la vida. San Francisco se tornaba en una escuela de un quehacer cotidiano a favor de los más desfavorecidos.

El “beat, beat, beat” daba la bienvenida al tercer milenio. Y es que no hay duda de que San Francisco fue y es la ciudad más progresista del país más conservador del planeta. En otras palabras: San Francisco es la ciudad más europeizada de América –ni siquiera Milwaukee se salva–. Mientras en el resto del país suenan canciones evangélicas en las televisiones públicas, en la bahía retocan acordes del más sofisticado punk revival. Y mientras los republicanos ganan escaños a costa de nada, el alcalde legaliza el matrimonio gay.

San Francisco, California, Europa… Mientras que el resto de ciudades, discípulas de la Manhattización, están compuestas por casas esparcidas out of the blue y conectadas por desiertas autopistas sin vida humana, al oeste uno puede prescindir del coche, tropezarse por la calle y aprender chino (y sus enésimos dialectos) sin la aburrida necesidad de apuntarse a una academia.

 Este país está diseñado para que no puedas organizar manifestaciones políticas. ¿Dónde las harías? ¿En el mall? ¿Y quién las convocaría? Las universidades norteamericanas están fuera de las ciudades. Pero San Francisco no es así. Aquí hay centros de reunión social. Y está Berkeley”.

Cada barrio es un mundo, literalmente. Market District, sinónimo de la Gran Vía madrileña, el Picadilly Circus londinense o la Fifth Avenue neoyorquina. Bermudas, un par de bambas, gafas de sol y una gran botella de agua. Desde ninguna otra calle se puede disfrutar del disimulado skyline en primera persona como desde esta. Russian Hill y la conocida Lombard Street, o conocido como el Uphill and Downhill District. Prepárate a sudar y a rezar un par de oraciones antes de embarcarte en la subida de una de sus numerosas cuestas. No olvides visitar y hacerte una fotografía rodeado de japoneses al final de Lombard St.

The Mission, es un barrio polifacético y multicultural de la ciudad. De hecho, la pintura mural, como forma de arte revolucionario y popular, sigue formando parte del paisaje urbano de San Francisco. Hay un callejón llamado Clarion, decorado con pinturas sobre la “resistencia mapuche” o la “lucha femenina”. Los rostros aquí son más cobrizos que blancos, y los acentos son más latinos que sajones. En los bares puedes encontrarte con americanos que te aseguran que Sendero Luminoso era un movimiento heroico de liberación de las masas, pero que tú no lo entiendes porque eres blanco y formas parte de las clases privilegiadas.

The Castro, el más gay y amable de los barrios sin lugar a dudas. Aquí puedes silbar cuando aparezcan los nazis, ir en tirantes y cantar con Julie Andrews. Recuerda al barrio de Pittsburg de la serie Queer As Folk –pero sin Brian–. Lo mejor de este barrio, sus cines, a veces con comedias homosexuales taiwanesas donde lo más occidentalmente conocido (Mitsubishi y Toyota) es lo que pasa mas desapercibido.

Financial District y el Civic Center son la pública diferencia de la ciudad. Ayuntamiento, edificios de importantes empresas, la oficina de Correos… Pero una vez que estás aquí, al son del tranvía o Cable Car, haz una visita a Alamo Square y Union Square, la zona más familiar y apacible de la ciudad. En la calle de Haight, entre casas victorianas pintadas de colores, puedes encontrar el equipo completo para convertirte en un genuino hippie en las variantes psicodélico, glam o luchador social. Las preciosas Painted Ladies de la serie Embrujadas, milkshakes de sabor a deseo de hadas madrinas y ¡Zara! Lo mejor es no dejar a tus hijos pequeños sueltos mientras te das una vuelta por Macy’s, pues las palomas pueden robártelo.

El asombroso Golden Gate Park da lugar al increíble puente rojo colgante. Ahora intérnate un poco. ¿Los ves? Allá al fondo, justo debajo de la nube de humo que atraviesa un barco, un grupo de barbudos tocan percusiones y guitarras. Ahora sí. Relájate. Déjate llevar. Acuéstate. Aspira hondo. Has llegado a la colina hippie, última estación de la máquina del tiempo. Sus más de 100 años de historia no han sido suficiente para dejar de ser una de las atracciones más llamativas y sugerentes de la ciudad. Atrévete a cruzar a pie sus casi 2 kilómetros de longitud mientras que tratas de explicar a un simpático nuevo japonés que tu cámara de fotos es misteriosamente más fácil de usar que la suya. Si sigues con fuerzas, no puedes olvidar visitar las bonitas sightseeings de localidades vecinas como Sausalito y Tiburon.

Una vez de vuelta, quédate a tomar asquerosas cremas de almejas y cangrejo –clam chowder– en Fisherman’s Wharf, situado en la zona peatonal y soleada de The Embarcadero. Échales de comer a los numerosos leones marinos y gaviotas una vez después de haber hechos el tradicional shopping por Pier 39, un fantástico lugar que recuerda al mundo de Alicia en el País de las Maravillas, donde comprar los más inesperados productos mientras tus hijos se dedican a saquear barriles enteros de golosinas en las decenas de tiendas dedicadas exclusivamente a sweets & gummies. Al concluir tu paseo por Fisherman’s, no está de más tomarse una fotografía junto al Ferry Building, situado justo entre de Market St.

Es de noche, y el contemplar Market iluminada por luces blancas y rojas y observar a los transeúntes desvanecerse entre el vaho de las alcantarillas no tiene precio.

I see a lot of polls online and in magazines that discuss the Best City in the United States to live in. Some lists are based on cities with the most job opportunities. Some are based on affordability of housing as compared to the typical salary in that city. Some are based on school systems, or quality of life, or many other things.

I am going to talk about the cities that I think are the best cities in the US to live in and why. In a future post, I will be discussing the best foreign cities to live in, as well as the worst US cities to live in. I also plan on doing a post about the best cities in the US to visit.

For me, the best city in the US to live in (without regard to cost of living) is New York City. New York offers the best opportunities for anything you could want. If you are a foodie, it has pretty much the widest selection of restaurants anywhere in the US. If you are into culture, New York offers dozens of world class museums, literally hundreds of theaters (Broadway, Off-Broadway, way off Broadway, etc). It offers Opera and Ballet. If you are into sports, there are typically two professional teams in every major sport, and sometimes even three (if you include nearby North Jersey).

New York has beaches and parks. It is the financial center of the world (though you might not want to say that too loudly right now).

It has history. There were battles fought here in the Revolutionary War. The first President of the United States was inaugurated in a building on Wall Street. Ellis Island is here.

It has easy transportation access in and out, whether by car, train, bus or plane. It has a mass transit system that can fairly comfortably take you just about anywhere you want to go in the city, at practically any time.

I could go on and on about all of the things that New York offers, but I will stop there. All of the things I mentioned (and more) are the reason that I think it is the best place in the US to live.

After New York, I am going to mention a number of other cities, but the order is arbitrary. I am not going to try to rank the rest because I think that would be pretty difficult to do.

Chicago is another great city to live in. Again, it has plenty of restaurants of pretty much every kind. It is considered by many to be the #1 food city in the country. It has some of the best museums this country has to offer, including the Art Institute of Chicago (which is my favorite museum of all), the Field Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Industry and Science. It also has a phenomenal mass transit system. Unlike New York, though, it does not reach out into all of the suburbs. Once you pass a certain point west (near Oak Park) or north (just past Evansville), you cannot rely on the trains and the buses don’t cover every area nearly as well. One advantage it does have over New York is that it is much cheaper to live in Chicago. Of course, this is offset by the brutal weather that Chicago experiences for at least 3 months of the year (not that New York is without its bad weather).

Another great city to live in is Seattle. The natural setting for the city of Seattle is virtually unmatched in the US (except for maybe San Francisco). Seattle is a young, vibrant town that is full of energy (possibly due to the unnaturally high per capita consumption of coffee). Seattle is a great gateway to the West Coast of the United States and Canada, as well as Alaska. One of the things I like to look for in a city is what opportunities it offers for weekend getaways and quick trips. Seattle’s plate is full in this category – whether it be a trip to Mount Rainier, or to the Straits of Juan de Fuca; to Vancouver or Portland; to the Cascades or the fantastic ski resorts of British Columbia. It will take a long time to run out of things to do in and around Seattle.

Let’s move on to Philadelphia. This is not a city that would be on a lot of people’s list for top US cities. It is on mine, though. It is a great hub for the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeastern United States. Within a 6 hour drive, you can be in any of the major cities along the Eastern Seaboard of the US, from Boston all the way down to Richmond, VA. That encompasses most of the original 13 colonies, so you would have fairly quick access to some of the best historical sites in the US. Philadelphia itself offers tons of options for investigating US history. In addition, of all of the major cities of the Northeast, it is the cheapest city to live in. It’s also a great sports town (though its fans are not known as the most polite fans in the country).

I will finish off with the city that I actually live in – Austin, TX. Austin is very different from the rest of Texas. It is a college town and it is a capitol city. It is growing much too quickly. But in spite of all of that, it is a charming and beautiful place. The hill country immediately to the west of the city has become a major tourist destination. Austin is a big city now, but it has not completely lost its small town charm (unlike Dallas and Houston, which I would dare say would not be considered “charming” by most people). It is also a major center of live music due to its hundreds of venues downtown for live musicians. It hosts several very large, well attended festivals, including SXSW (South By Southwest) and the Austin City Limits Festival. I really love living in Austin especially because of the friendly people. In spite of its rapid growth, the people still treat others in a kindly and welcoming manner.

I would love to hear comments from any of my readers about your favorite cities to live in (and why they are your favorite).

Local artist Jason Hill will premiere “Icons of Phoenix,” his latest series of handcrafted prints during Art Detour in March at Practical Art in Phoenix.  View Jason Hill’s new hand-printed silkscreen editions of iconic architectural landmarks in Phoenix, including Arcosanti, Taliesin West, Luhrs Tower, Westward Ho, Security Building, Rosson House, Hanny’s, Phoenix Towers, and the Phoenix Financial Center. Each image will be available in signed & numbered editions of five, printed with pearlescent pigments on 21″ x 17″ 80 lb. Neenah Environment paper.

A reception for the artist will be held Friday, March 6, 2009, beginning at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served.  The event is free and open to the public.  No RSVPs are necessary.  The exhibition will continue until March 31.  Practical Art is located at 5070 N. Central Avenue in Phoenix, just a block and a half north of Camelback. During this show, Practical Art will be a stop on the annual Art Detour route, March 6 -8, 2009, sponsored by ArtLink.

[Source: Robrt L. Pela, Phoenix New Times] — In Jason Hill’s Phoenix, the sun never sets.  His paintings of the city — a vibrant Valley National Bank framed by a glowing sky; a dazzling Financial Center with a jet jauntily speeding past — are thousand-watt, high-color beacons that send the same, simple, not-so-subliminal message: Phoenix is cool.  Come see for yourself.

Laura Spalding’s paintings are more roundabout celebrations of our town.  Onto old Arizona license plates and tin trays, she paints skies cluttered with telephone poles and electrical wires.  Her cityscapes are testimonies to how amazing it is that Phoenix sprang up in the desert in the first place; homages to how it survived to become a prosperous, distinctive destination.

Georganne Bryant’s message is less subtle.  Onto black, cotton T-shirts that she sells at her midtown boutique, she has had a local T-shirt artist silk-screen this legend: Love Phoenix or Leave Phoenix.

Something has shifted.  Hill and Spalding and Bryant and dozens of others like them are having a public love affair with Phoenix.  They’re opening cafes and launching Web sites and creating art that speaks of their pride in a city that most of us have gotten pretty good at mocking.  Many of these folks would have us believe — and, perhaps, want to believe themselves — that we, the country’s fifth-largest city, have finally arrived.  That Phoenix has at last, after decades of false starts and near misses, awakened from a slumber that lasted way too long.  [Note: To read the full article, click here.]

Boston, MA

The Isle of Man is a long established and modern international financial centre, conveniently located in Europe and offering a wide range of financial services in a well regulated environment.

Government

Financial Supervision Commission

Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme

Isle of Man Finance

Insurance and Pensions Authority

Fund Management

Isle of Man Fund Management Association

Database of Fund Managers and Fund Administrators

Banks

Association of Licensed Banks

Database of Banks

Insurance

Manx Insurance Managers Association

Manx Insurance Association

Corporate Services

Association of Corporate Service Providers

Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners

Isle of Man Law Society

Martin A. Sullivan, an economist and Tax Analysts’ contributing editor, tries to quantify the amount of offshore tax evasion by individuals by examining financial data in tax haven jurisdictions.

He recently added new jurisdictions:

1. Guernsey
2. Jersey
3. Isle of Man
4. Switzerland
5. Caribbean Hedge Funds, Part 1
6. Caribbean Hedge Funds, Part 2

Hong Kong is a thriving international financial centre. It has a strong regulatory environment and performs well in all of the key competitiveness areas. As with the other leading centres, costs are high but this does not seem to detract from overall competitiveness. If any Asian centre is to join London and New York as a global financial centre, Hong Kong is the strongest contender.

Hong Kong International Rankings

Hong Kong 2006 – Financial and Monetary Affairs

Associations

Hong Kong Association of Banks

List of banks in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Investment Funds Association

Hong Kong Federation of Insurers

Securities and Futures Commission

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited

Hong Kong Association of Financial Engineer (HKAFE)

Hong Kong Association of Business and Professional Women

Government

Hong Kong Monetary Authority – Banking System

Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau

Office of the Commissioner of Insurance

Insider Dealing Tribunal

1. Hong Kong
2. Isle of Man
3. Channel Islands
4. Cayman Islands
5. Bermuda
6. British Virgin Islands

Three Territories, (Bermuda, Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands) are of major importance in the global financial system. Cayman Islands are home to 80 per cent of the world’s hedge funds. More details are available in National Audit Office Report on the Crown Protectorates. Marty Sullivan at TaxAnalysts is also doing a new project on offshore.

General Info

London as a financial centre
More than 550 international banks and 170 global securities houses have set up offices in London. By contrast Frankfurt has around 280, Paris, 270 and New York 250.

London: Center of International Finance

Financial Services Authority

The City of London is both the leading global financial services centre and the single most internationally focused financial marketplace in the world. Research publications are available at the link.

Think London is the foreign direct investment agency for London. According to its data, London is the world’s leading financial centre: in 2006, the London Stock Exchange listed 419 companies compared to New York’s 174.

UK Trade & Investment is the Government organisation that helps UK-based companies succeed in an increasingly global economy.

London Stock Exchange

Banks of the United Kingdom at Wikipedia

British Associations

British Bankers Association (members)

International Financial Services, London (members) IFSL’s role is to promote the international activities and expertise of UK-based financial services. It is the only independent cross-sectoral organisation representing the UK financial services industry.

Futures and Options Association (FOA) (members)

Association of Foreign Banks (members)

London Investment Banking Association (members)

British Venture Capital Association (members)

Investment Management Association (full members, affiliate members)

Securities & Investment Institute Securities & Investment Institute is the largest and most widely respected professional body for those who work in the securities and investment industry in the UK

Maritime London

Publications

Financial Times

Guardian

The Business

Economist

Other

Europebanks.info is an exclusive collection almost all main banks in european countries along with their contact information.

Graduate Opportunities in the Lloyd’s

Recent research shows that after a century of dominating global finance, New York is facing a rivalry 3,500 miles to the east – by City of London. Article in NY Magazine provides more details on this trend.

To evaluate London’s relative competitiveness as a financial center, City of London launched the Global Financial Centers Index. It ranks about 50 financial centers. Latest report can be downloaded from the link.

Top 10 Financial Centres (according to GCFI2):

London
London remains in first place and is particularly well rated with regard to the availability f skilled people, regulation and market access. Nearly all key success areas are strong – London is in the top quartile in over 80% of its instrumental factors. The main concerns for future competitiveness are corporate tax rates and transport infrastructure. London has increased its lead over New York from seven to 19 points.
New York
New York is also in the top quartile in over 80% of its instrumental factors. People and market access are particularly strong. Respondents still regard Sarbanes-Oxley as the most outstanding negative factor. New York is now 90 points ahead of the third placed centre (slightly further ahead than in GFCI 1 where the gap was 88 points).

Hong Kong
Hong Kong continues to be a thriving international centre. It has a strong regulatory environment and performs well in all of the key competitiveness areas. As with the other leading centres, costs are high but this does not seem to detract from overall competitiveness. If any Asian centre is to join London and New York as a global financial centre, Hong Kong is the strongest contender.

Singapore
Singapore performs well in the key competitiveness areas. Banking regulation is regarded as excellent. It is definitely the second Asian centre and remains 24 points behind Hong Kong – the same gap as in GFCI 1.

Zurich
Zurich is the strongest niche centre in the GFCI. Private banking and asset management are its key areas of focus. Zurich continues to perform well in three of the key competitiveness areas but loses out slightly on people factors.

Frankfurt
Frankfurt is the second general financial services centre in Europe and retains a strong banking focus. Frankfurt continues to suffer from an inflexible labour market. Market access, infrastructure and business environment are good.

Geneva
Geneva is a strong niche centre similar to Zurich. Private banking and asset management continue to thrive. Geneva scores well for its business environment and general competitiveness, gaining 12 points in GFCI 2. It is now in 7th place and only four points behind Frankfurt.

Chicago
The number two centre in the USA remains in 8th place. Chicago scores highly for people but is let down by its infrastructure and market access rankings. It is also affected by the same regulatory regime as New York. Chicago will not overtake New York, but remains a powerful regional centre.

Sydney
Sydney is a strong national centre with good regulation. It benefits from offering a particularly high quality of life. Sydney is strong in most of the key competitiveness areas although the availability of skilled financial services professionals is rated as low – many leave for larger English-speaking centres such as London and New York. Sydney has dropped by two places to 9th but is only three points behind Chicago.

Tokyo
Tokyo does not fare as well as the other major Asian centres. The reputation of its regulatory environment is poor and it does not do well on people factors. It scores well in terms of infrastructure and market access. The size of the Japanese economy means that Tokyo will always remain significant. It has dropped nine points since GFCI 1 and is now in 10th place.

After over 6 months, I finally made it to the observation deck of Jin Mao tower!

The observation deck is on the 88th floor of the Jin Mao tower, which is 340.1 meter high with a construction space area of 1,520 square meters. It’s the biggest observation deck in Shanghai. From the top of it, your are able to view the Yangtze River entering the sea and all the scenery of the metropolitan Shanghai. You can also send your best wishes to every corner around the world with its attached post office, the highest one in China.

You never have to wait to see the world from the Jin Mao observatory. Taking the two elevators at an incredible speed of 9.1m per second, you are able to cover 88 floors in 45 seconds smoothly.

Look down inside the observation deck! A great picture of the highest deluxe five-star hotel of the world – the Grand Hyatt Hotel – is exhibited in front. The biggest atrium, from 53F to 87F with height of 152m and diameter of 27m, looks like a time tunnel leading to the future.

[Jin Mao 88 Observatory booklet]

2007-11-10 – Jin Mao Tower Album

In the last weeks I took every now and then a picture of the view from my apartment. It is intersting how different the view can be depending on the weather.

On the pictures you can see from the left to the right:

• Pearl Tower
• Jin Mao Building
• Shanghai World Financial Center
• Time Square (building with golden roof on the right)
• and probably some more, which names I do not know

2007-09-02 – Diverse Apartment View