The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is a leading global stock exchange with a long history dating back to the 17th century. It offers real-time information on stock trading and prices, and provides facilities and services for members to trade in shares, securities, and derivatives. The LSE survived takeover attempts and remains a model financial institution for the 21st century.
The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is a stock exchange that can trace its roots back centuries. With almost 3,000 companies and corporations trading in business in 2010, the LSE remains one of the world’s leading stock exchanges. The venerable history and staunch resistance to takeover attempts lead many to regard the LSE as a model financial institution for the 21st century.
In the 17th century, wealthy merchants began selling shares to each other in an attempt to raise money for endeavors, such as trading voyages. These deals were handled from coffee shops, the gathering places of choice for any 17th-century gentleman. Enterprising coffee shop businessman Jonathan Casting began offering a daily list of exchange prices, giving rise to the first London stock exchange. The popularity of the stock market skyrocketed over the centuries, forcing the British government to pass laws that created legal trading guidelines and operating policies. Although the headquarters have moved from Jonathan’s Coffee House, the trading and often wild atmosphere of the stock market continues to this day at the London Stock Exchange.
A stock exchange is a company that provides facilities and information for people seeking to buy, sell and invest in shares and trading in the market. The London Stock Exchange, a global company, can provide real-time information on stock trading and prices to members around the world. The LSE offers three types of trading: shares, securities and derivatives, while providing the public and members with an organized information system.
To trade on the London Stock Exchange, a person or company must be a member. This may include meeting qualification requirements and paying an annual or monthly fee to use the facilities. Members have access to a variety of services to aid trading, such as specialist trading software and access to LSE financial consultants. Although based in London, the LSE operates a fully computerized trading system that members can access and use anywhere in the world.
Although still based in London, in 2007 a merger with an Italian stock exchange called Borsa Italiana made the LSE the largest trading network in London. In the early 21st century, the company survived takeover attempts by the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation, or NASDAQ, a competing American company. Despite the tense backlog of takeover attempts, the London Stock Exchange decided to reject all offers, preferring to remain in the European market.
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