Move over Mumbai, Bahrain and Qatar – western bankers shifting to far-flung financial centres may be heading for fresh hotspots including Taipei, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, which have gatecrashed the rankings of top global financial centres, according to a new survey.

In the latest global financial centres index, published by the City of London Corporation, London and New York retained their positions as the top two financial centres around the world, despite fears that the economic downturn could threaten their standing. The City of London Corporation provides local government services for the Square Mile financial district in the UK capital.