The loss by UBS Warburg Ltd of a further four listed company clients this quarter can't have done much to lift the spirits of its erstwhile competitors; the firm retains a commanding lead over its closest rival in terms of the number of stockmarket clients each firm has. A distant second place goes again to Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, with HSBC Investment Bank holding onto third, and Beeson Gregory again in fourth. The only notable move in the table is made by Collins Stewart, gaining four places to twelfth position.

HSBC gets its own back on Warburgs in the other 'size' table, that ranks firms by client profits, knocking Warburgs off top slot into second place ahead of Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein. Other notable moves are made by Seymour Pierce, up three places to eighth, and Beeson Gregory, down four to finish in eleventh slot.

Both 'growth' tables see much more widespread movement. In the fastest growing clients rankings Brewin Dolphin leaps three slots to top the table, ahead of a consistent Schroder Salomon Smith Barney and ­ a relative newcomer to the podium ­ HSBC Investment Bank. The biggest climber, however, is NM Rothschild, up a phenomenal seven places to claim fifth position. Collins Stewart, by contrast, drops four places to finish eleventh.

Investec Investment Banking holds onto top slot in the fastest increasing earnings stakes, its third consecutive quarter in a row in that position, ahead of Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein and Brewin Dolphin. UBS Warburgs drops three places to fifth, the biggest move of a number of shuffles across the table.


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