Toronto has a concentration of 1,700 financial services firms and over 210,000 people are directly employed in Toronto's financial cluster, which ranks among the world's elite in growth and performance. New York State's financial services employment was 585,151 or almost 9% of private sector jobs, with security/commodity brokers and depository institutions making up the largest segments. Chicago ranks second in North America behind New York as the most productive financial cluster. Gold is predicted to rise as a hedge against economic downturns like stagflation and its promotion from global clusters could push its price to $1,500 per ounce. Toronto has the lowest average operating costs of international financial centers like New York, London, and Tokyo

1. Toronto Financial Clusters Marco Consoli

2. Toronto Financial Cluster Toronto has a concentration of 1,700 financial services firms Toronto's financial cluster ranks among the world's elite in terms of performance and growth expectations. More than 210,000 people are directly employed by financial services companies in the Toronto region

3. New York Financial Cluster Financial Services employment in New York State was 585,151 almost 9% of privatesector employment in the State The largest segment within the Financial Services Cluster is security and commodity brokers, which account for 32% of cluster employment in New York. Depository institutions have 31% of clusteremployment, while Insurance carriers, agents, and brokers hold 29% of cluster employment.

4. Chicago Financial Cluster Ranks second in North America just behind New York as the city with the most productive financial cluster Financial Services firms have been affected by a number of long-term structural developments which have intensified and continue to reshape the cluster and influence the location of its activities. Thesetrends are evident in each of the main Financial Services subclusters (banking, securities, and insurance):

5. Gold’s impact on financial clusters Can be used against common economic downturns, such as “stagflation” Is predicted to grow in value in inverse proportion to the de-evaluation of the American currency Is being heavily promoted from financial clusters around the world as it will look to reach $1500 an ounce within the next couple of years

6. The Impact of Oil on the financial clusters - More oil & gas companies are listed on Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and TSX Venture Exchange than any other exchange in the world. At the end of September 2007, there were 423 oil & gas companies with a total market capitalization of $525.2 billion listed on Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange

7. The Amero The concept of having a common North American currency that will facilitate and enhance trade among the constituents: Canada United States Mexico - Will be used to give North American country’s an edge over international competition

8. The Amero Concept

9. Toronto’s growing Financial Cluster The center of this is in Toronto where it helped generate more than 50,000 new jobs since 2003. The Greater Toronto Area is home to 28 per cent of Canada's financial services sector. The Greater Toronto Area is home to 28 per cent of Canada's financial services sector and ranks 15th in the world as a financial center.

10. Comparing Toronto to the international competition City Total Operating Costs Toronto $ 9,273 Sydney $ 9,376 Chicago $ 9,559 New York $ 10,312 London $ 13,791 Frankfurt $ 14,361 Tokyo (Yokohama) $14,903 - Toronto ranks as number one among all other international cities in terms of lowest average operating costs. This provides great incentives for financial clusters to further develop and expand their concentration.

11. Toronto Financial Cluster Overview Home-base for the TSX Group - the third-largest stock exchange in North American and seventh largest in the world based on market capitalization - is the world leader in mining sector listings. The centre for over 10 per cent of all Canadian economic activity with a population of 2.6 million and $123 billion.