Andy Stewart, co-founder of investment boutique Collins Stewart, is so sure of his new venture's success he has made an unusual pledge. "I'll walk naked around the City of London if we don't make a profit in year one," he says.

Since Cenkos Securities opened in May it has been appointed broker to 18 companies worth a total of £2.3bn (€3.1bn), and six more are in the pipeline. "Business has been absolutely fantastic," says Stewart.