LONDON, 15 Jan. - (ANA) - The United Kingdom (UK) maintains its position as a leading international financial centre, excelling in cross-border banking, insurance and FinTech investment, further reinforcing its competitiveness and appeal to global investors.

 

The UK as an international financial centre 2025' report highlights the depth, diversity and global contribution of the UK-based financial and related professional services industry.

 

The global economy is currently navigating a period of significant transition, marked by uneven inflation, policy uncertainties and shifting international dynamics. 

 

Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, evolving energy policies and demographic changes are reshaping markets, while ongoing geopolitical tensions present both challenges and opportunities. Throughout these changes, the UK’s financial and related professional services industry continues to demonstrate resilience and leadership on the global stage.

 

 

 

• The UK is one of the world’s leading international financial and related professional services hubs, with London central to this position. This report uses the latest available data to highlight a number of measures and markets that demonstrate the UK’s role as an international financial centre.

 

• TheCityUK estimates the UK’s trade surplus in financial and related professional services to have been £119.1bn in 2024. The magnitude of exports relative to imports indicates that the industry is highly competitive globally.

 

• The UK maintains a globally leading share of a number of financial markets; for example, it has 14.6% of the global total of cross-border bank lending. London is a centre for foreign banks, with more than 160 foreign banks or branches in the city.

 

• Around twice as many US dollars are traded on the foreign exchange market in the UK than in the US. Overall, the UK has 38% of the global total of foreign-exchange turnover, and a 49.6% share of trading in over the counter (OTC) interest-rate derivatives.

 

• The UK insurance sector is the biggest in Europe. According to data from the London Market (a separate part of the sector focusing on high-exposure risk), London has a 43% share of the global market for specialty risk classes (e.g. marine and energy).

 

• The UK is the largest source of pension funds in Europe, with $3.2trn (equivalent to £2.5trn) in assets under management in 2024.

 

• London’s importance as a centre for global equity trading is illustrated by the 259 foreign companies listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) as of October 2025 – putting London in the top five exchanges globally by this metric.

 

• The UK plays a leading role in a number of specialist areas of financial services. For example, Islamic finance and maritime financial services are sectors where the UK has been at the forefront of development.

 

• Green finance is a specialist area of particular prominence for UK financial and related professional services. For example, London is a global hub for green funds, and the LSE was the first exchange to use a public market framework to help funding into climate mitigation projects that generate carbon credits.

 

• The UK is the world’s second largest destination for FinTech investment, after the US, and continues to be the most attractive destination for FinTech in Europe. In 2024, the UK attracted $3.6bn (equivalent to £2.8bn) across 546 FinTech deals. 

 

• The UK is the largest legal services market in Europe and is second only to the US globally. It is home to a widerange of international law firms, with more than 200 foreign law firms from around 40 jurisdictions operating in the country.

 

• Turnover generated by management consultancy services in the UK increased by 66% from £55.5bn (equivalent to $84.8bn) in 2015 to £92bn (equivalent to $117.8bn) in 2024. The sector is highly varied,providing both general business and domain-specific and process-specific services.

 

• A range of UK-based organisations provides education and training in financial and related professional services internationally. Three UK universities are part of the global top 10 higher-level institutions specialised in accounting and finance courses.    - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/15 January 2026 - - -