A surge in commercial real estate deals during the third quarter of the year cemented London as the world’s leading city for transactions — even as the UK's impending departure from the European Union shines a spotlight on other destinations.

A report from real estate advisory firm JLL said significant deals, which included the $1.7bn July sale of London's 'Walkie Talkie' skyscraper to Hong Kong's LKK Group, helped the capital’s transaction total reach $26bn in the first nine months of this year.