London Stock Exchange

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is a global stock exchange based in Paternoster Square in the City of London, England. Founded in 1801, it is one of the world's oldest continuously operating stock exchanges. As of mid-2025, the exchange had a total market capitalisation of approximately US$5.9 trillion for all listed instruments. Since 2007, it has been operated by the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), which is itself a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index and trades under the ticker symbol LSEG.

The exchange hosts over 1,900 companies from more than 60 countries, operating several key equity and debt markets, including its Main Market for established global companies and the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) for smaller, high-growth firms. It also serves as a primary venue for Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs), providing a critical gateway for firms from emerging markets—particularly India, China, and the Middle East—to access international capital. The exchange is a global center for the Natural Resources sector; as of 2025, London maintains the world's largest concentration of mining capital, with a sectoral market capitalization of approximately US$600 billion, representing roughly 13% of the global mining market.

Despite challenges following Brexit, the LSE regained its position as Europe’s largest stock market by total market value in 2024 and 2025, bolstered by a record-breaking performance in its flagship FTSE 100 index, which surpassed the 10,000-point milestone for the first time in early 2026.