Global Financial Centers

The global economy is coordinated by major financial centers that correspond to the most important cities in world in terms of command and influence. Due to the overlapping of market opening hours it becomes possible for financial markets to trade 24 hours per day as one market close the other takes over. Telecommunications make this process virtually instantaneous. However, it should not be forgotten that there is a physical reality behind these world cities. Many are also trade gateways implying a significant concentration of intermodal transport infrastructures, such as ports and airports, that service their respective hinterlands.