London Stock Exchange plans 24-hour continuous trading venue for exchange-traded products, subject to regulatory approval, with client testing by end of 2026

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) announced on Tuesday that it plans to launch a new 24-hour continuous trading platform, operating separately from its main market, that will allow investors worldwide to trade across global time zones from Monday to Friday. The platform is expected to be available for client testing by the end of 2026, with exchange-traded products (ETPs), a category that includes exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and exchange-traded commodities, launching as the first asset class in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory approval. The move positions the LSE alongside other major exchanges pursuing extended or around-the-clock trading. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) had previously announced plans to allow customers to trade 22 hours a day on its electronic Arca exchange, operating from 1:30am to 11:30pm Eastern time. The LSE's new platform will run separately from the main market, meaning existing listing and trading rules for primary market issuers will not immediately be affected. The regulatory approval requirement signals that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or other relevant regulators will need to be satisfied before full launch, and firms involved in market-making or custody for ETPs will need to assess the operational and compliance implications of round-the-clock trading obligations. The strategic rationale is to attract a broader pool of global investors, particularly those in Asian time zones currently underserved by European market hours, reinforcing London's competitiveness as an international listing and trading venue at a time when the exchange is actively seeking to reverse a period of reduced primary issuance activity.

Sign up to read →