The turmoil in the financial world is proving to be a big business opportunity for some City stockbrokers and investment banks to grab business from competitors.

At the top end of the market, the recently announced sales of Dresdner Kleinwort, Merrill Lynch and the European business of Lehman Brothers are widely expected to prompt many FTSE 350 companies to reconsider their corporate broker and financial adviser relationships. Further down the scale, the economic woes of many small- and mid-cap stockbrokers are sending some lients out to look for extra help.