As London gets ready to host the Olympics at the end of this month, Goldman Sachs researchers have analysed data to produce possible links between economics, markets and the games – and to predict the likely medals table.

Goldman Sachs researchers have found that over the past 10 Olympics, the host nation has won an average 54% more medals than in Games it did not host. The bank's report, The Olympics and Economics 2012, said: "If medals are your preferred currency, this represents a high return on investment."