Pisces’ first birthday was an intimate affair Markets The faint pop of a champagne bottle was heard in the Square Mile a few days ago, marking the first anniversary of the LSE getting a licence for Pisces – the private securities venue providing liquidity to fast-growing firms. As celebrations go, it was an intimate affair. Over the past year, just three businesses have [...]
Value of UK deals rockets as buyers pounce on FTSE 100 firms Merger/Acquisition The value of UK merger and acquisitions more than doubled in the first half of 2026 as foreign buyers capitalised on sluggish valuations to pick off some of Britain’s most valuable companies. Takeovers worth some £124bn were struck in the first six months of the year, up 107 per cent year-on-year from £60bn in the [...]
Fresh stock market raid sparks clarion call for action Markets The London Stock Exchange risks being gutted of even more blue-chip firms this year without urgent action from ministers and officials, a group of top advisers has said, after three more listed companies accepted bids from foreign buyers. The cohort warned that “complacency is not a viable option” following news that FTSE 250 firms Bodycote [...]
City trading ‘higher than thought’, FCA believes August 2, 2026 Trading volumes in London are up to three times higher in value than thought after so-called “dark trading” is taken into account, the City regulator believes. Analysis by the Financial Conduct Authority believes that trading valuations are much higher as some traders opt to use non-official channels. This kind of business, referred to as “dark [...]
LSEG boss hails ‘growing momentum’ of Pisces as profit soars July 30, 2026 The boss of London Stock Exchange operator LSEG has hailed the “growing momentum” of its new Pisces venue as it reported a jump in profit. Chief executive David Schwimmer said the new private markets venue, which recently saw some of its first major transactions, was “opening up significant new market opportunities.” Earlier this month, autonomous [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 hits new high after interest rates held July 30, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The Bank of England has held interest rates at 3.75 per cent in a 6-3 split. The City had pencilled in a hawkish hold from the Monetary Policy Committee after inflationary pressures were renewed on the latest round of strikes in the Middle East. Megan Greene, Catherine Mann and [...]
Here’s how to fix London listings July 30, 2026 The exodus from the London Stock Exchange demands practical solutions, not complaint, says Jonathan Dickson This week DCC Energy became the latest FTSE 100 group to be taken private, amid growing global competition for listings. Just last month, it emerged that as many as 20 FTSE 100 companies may move direct listings to New York. [...]
London Stock Exchange unveils ‘LSE24’ round-the-clock trading venue July 21, 2026 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 [...]
Moneybox boosts London’s Pisces market in ‘milestone’ £45m sale July 13, 2026 Moneybox has granted London’s novice private markets platform another major boost after confirming a £45m employee share sale. The move has been hailed a “milestone transaction” in the City’s efforts to keep tech firms from looking for opportunities abroad. The fintech will use the London Stock Exchange’s Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System (PISCES) [...]
London Stock Exchange boss accuses FCA of ‘playing fast and loose’ as she warns government may have to ‘step in’ June 8, 2026 The boss of the London Stock Exchange has taken aim at the financial watchdog over its plans to introduce greater market transparency in signs of a major fallout between the two City institutions. Julia Hoggett, chief executive of the exchange, has accused the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of “playing fast and loose” with the market, [...]