BANK OF THE WEST INVESTMENT SERVICES

Copenhagen ( /?ko?p?nhe???n/ or /?ko?p?nh????n/; Danish: Kobenhavn pronounced [k?ob?m??h????n] ( listen)) is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 (as of 1 January 2011) and a metropolitan population of 1,919,979 (as of 1 July 2011). With the completion of the transnational Oresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Oresund Region. Within this region, Copenhagen and the Swedish city of Malmo are growing into a combined metropolitan area. Copenhagen is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager.

First documented in the 11th century, Copenhagen became the capital of Denmark in the beginning of the 15th century. During the 17th century, under the reign of Christian IV, it became a significant regional centre.

Copenhagen is a major regional centre of culture, business, media, and science, as indicated by several international surveys and rankings (see International rankings below). Life science, information technology and shipping are important sectors, and research & development plays a major role in the city's economy. Its strategic location and excellent infrastructure, with the largest airport in Scandinavia located 14 minutes by train from the city centre, have made it a regional hub and a popular location for regional headquarters and conventions.

Copenhagen has repeatedly been recognized as one of the cities with the best quality of life.It is also considered one of the world's most environmentally friendly cities. The water in the inner harbour is clean and safe for swimming. 36% of all citizens commute to work by bicycle. Every day, they cycle a combined 1.2 million km.

Since the turn of the millennium, Copenhagen has seen a strong urban and cultural development and has been described as a boom town. This is partly due to massive investments in cultural facilities as well as infrastructure and a new wave of successful designers, chefs and architects.As of 2010, Copenhagen is ranked as the 10th most expensive city in the world according to Forbes magazine.(wiki)

By all accounts 2011 is going to be tougher that this one was. Austerity is the watchword as we all, we being the normal non-investment bankers and politicians, have to tighten our belts.
As we go into the New Year, I still don't know if my job is safe, but fingers crossed it is. Like many others we are hanging on with plans for home improvements in case things go really belly up/
Talk is of the Euro collapsing, and one European economy failing; Germany and some of the Nordic countries going off on their own and doing some new euro, whilst the rest carry on as best they can.
Interest rates are due to rise, the target is 5% according to the BBC, though that might not happen all in the new year.

Not that it is all bad; as long as we have love and romance........

Let us all hope that the new year is better than predicted and the light at the end of the tunnel is not an approaching train! Silly me, there's snow on the line.

So, Happy New Year one and all, and who knows, it might never happen, eh?