The financial sector in Shanghai saw steady growth last year, as the overall 2012 Shanghai Financial Prosperity Index rose to 2,838, up 12 percent year-on-year.

The 2012 SFPI shows that, despite last year's complicated domestic and international environment, Shanghai's financial sector maintained healthy growth, according to Roland Berger Strategy Consultants.

Lian Ping, executive member of the Experts Committee of the Shanghai Financial Association and chief economist at the Bank of Communications, predicted that the financial sector in Shanghai will continue to overtake that of GDP in the next few years.

This financial markets sub-index reached 3,995 points, up 14.4 percent from a year earlier and indicating improved prosperity.