France's Lagarde says Paris should be London financial rival

NEW YORK (Reuters) - French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said on Monday she is seeking to build on reforms to help Paris take on London as a financial centre.

Speaking at the New York Stock Exchange, Lagarde said she was spearheading a slate of regulatory reforms that would make it easier for U.S. and other foreign companies to list in the French capital.

She said major changes in the French labour market -- including more flexibility for hiring and firing, longer work weeks and less regulatory red tape -- would make life easier for foreign firms.

"These reforms are aimed to put Paris on par with London," she said. "Competition is going to be the rule of the game."

(Reporting by Steven C. Johnson and Phil Wahba; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)