London Stock Exchange unveils ‘LSE24’ round-the-clock trading venue

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The venue will be open 24 hours, 5 days a week

The London Stock Exchange has unveiled plans to introduce 24-hour trading as it seeks to claw back interest from retail investors lured away by crypto and overseas markets.

The stock market’s operator, LSEG, said it will launch the new venue, dubbed LSE24, as soon as next year in order to give “global investors greater flexibility to respond to market events, access liquidity across time zones and manage risk.”

It will trade 24 hours a day, five days a week, and operate separately from the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market, which will continue to operate its existing trading hours.

LSE 24 will be available for client testing by the end of 2026, with Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) launching as the first asset class. 

“By integrating with LSEG’s digital markets infrastructure, LSE 24 will help support deeper liquidity, greater efficiency and broader participation in our markets, reinforcing London’s position as a leading global financial centre,” said LSE chief executive Julia Hoggett.

Shrinking exchange

The launch of 24 hour trading comes as the London Stock Exchange battles for survival after a flurry of exits and overseas takeovers from top constituents.

Dozens of companies have quit London’s public markets over the past year, with relatively few opting to list in their stead. In the first half of the year, the total value of takeover bids and exits from the London Stock Exchange was 27 times greater than the value of new entrants and IPOs.

The average price paid by acquirers relative to companies’ share prices has hit 45 per cent, according to data from AJ Bell, highlighting the depths to which the valuations of London-listed firms have plunged relative to overseas peers. Foreign buyers account for 86 per cent of total deal value, with US buyers representing half of all overseas approaches.

Insurer Beazley was poached by Zurich for £8.1bn at a 59.8 per cent premium, while Nuveen swept up Schroders for £9.9bn, at a 34 per cent premium. On Thursday, three listed businesses agreed to takeover deals, including engineering firm Rotork, which was bought by Swiss rival ABB for £4.1bn at a 73 per cent premium.

The mid-market has also been caught up in the wave of deals. FTSE 250 budget airline Easyjet agreed in principle to a £5.7bn takeover bid from Apollo, placing it at an 81 per cent premium.