London has an enduring popularity among investors, it has been claimed, because many see it as a "safe haven" during difficult economic times. This is the opinion of Ed Mead, director of Douglas and Gordon, who stated that real estate in the centre of the capital is constantly in demand. He pointed out that due to a "quirk of geography" the city is the only major financial hub that can trade with both Japan and New York in the course of a single working day.
Mr Mead also noted that the London property market consistently performs well because there is little or no room for expansion and this "limited supply" of commercial properties has "always kept prices good and interest up". Research published at the end of August by Knight Frank revealed that real estate values in London have increased by 36 per cent in two years, while rents in the capital have also gone up by 26.3 per cent since June 2009.