London Stock Exchange

The London Stock Exchange features a history that began in the late 17th century. It was not until 1801 that a regulated and formal stock exchange was formed under the name "The Stock Exchange." In 1991, a Board of Directors replaced the Council of the Exchange, and the name of the exchange was change to The London Stock Exchange. The exchange is located in Paternoster Square, London, England. The stock exchange also has an Asia Pacific headquarters located in Hong Kong. This Asia Pacific headquarters was established in 2004 and symbolises the London Stock Exchanges commitment to the region.

There four areas in which the London Stock Exchange operates. These areas are trading services, market data information, equity markets and derivatives. As of May 2008, the company listings on the London Stock Exchange reached nearly 2,749 companies. This makes the London Stock Exchange the largest stock exchange in Europe. The companies listed with the London Stock Exchange come from 60 different countries, making it the world's most international stock exchange. There are three main indices covering the companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. These are the FTSE 100 Index, FTSE 250 Index, and the FTSE 350 Index. Many services and systems are offered by the London Stock Exchange to help make transactions faster, more precise and more efficient.