The Chartered Financial Analyst qualification has experienced a meteoric rise in popularity in recent years. From its humble origins at the Darden Business school at Virginia University – the first CFA was awarded in 1963 – the programme has escalated to a record 140,000 registrations worldwide for the last academic year – a 20 per cent increase from 2005-06.

At the start of this month, applicants from more than 160 countries sat the gruelling two three-hour analytical exams in asset valuation, portfolio management and investment tools, in the hope of sharpening their competitive edge as investment professionals.