London tops poll for European research

London is extending its lead as the centre for broker research into continental European equities, according to the latest annual Reuters survey of European larger company investment research, sales and trading.

The survey, carried out by Tempest Consultants, showed London-based brokers took 83 per cent of the top three industry and country sector positions, up from 80 per cent a year ago.

SBC Warburg Securities and Goldman Sachs International retained their top spots, as fund managers and company finance directors respectively voted the firms as best for overall research.

Fund management groups voted SBC Warburg as offering the best research, with 10.29 per cent of the vote against 11.92 per cent last year.

Company finance directors, as last year, voted Goldman Sachs best for broker research, with 9.87 per cent of the vote, up from 8.15 per cent last time.

In other awards, Fidelity Investments was voted best fund management group according to finance directors, and they also voted Fidelity best individual fund manager.