London Stock Exchange, Stock exchange in City of London, England
The London Stock Exchange runs its headquarters at Paternoster Square near St Paul's Cathedral, coordinating securities and derivatives trading across multiple markets. Electronic platforms handle the processing of transactions while the building itself houses offices and meeting spaces for financial firms.
The exchange began in 1698 when John Castaing started listing stock prices at Jonathan's Coffee House, before formal establishment came in 1801. Over three centuries it grew into one of the leading financial centers of the world.
Traders and finance professionals in suits move through the district during weekdays, shaping the busy pace around Paternoster Square. Nearby pubs and cafés fill up after the markets close with employees discussing deals and unwinding from the trading day.
Trading runs on weekdays from nine in the morning until half past five in the afternoon London time, with electronic systems handling thousands of transactions. Visitors can view the modern building from outside, as public access to trading areas is not available.
The 1986 deregulation called Big Bang replaced floor trading with electronic systems and removed fixed commission structures. This shift fundamentally changed how the exchange operated, moving activity from the trading floor to dealers' screens.
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