THE BEECHMONT CREST ONLINE GUIDE TO STOCKS AND INVESTING
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE (LSE)
The LSE is the largest securities market in the United Kingdom. The history of the LSE can be traced back to the late 1600s, when dealers began trading stocks and commodities in some of London’s prestigious coffee houses.
The modern version of the LSE was established in 1801. By the mid-1830s, there were competing regional exchanges in Manchester and Liverpool.
In 1973, the regional exchanges of Great Britain and Ireland were combined with the LSE. The LSE now has branches throughout Great Britain and Ireland.
Both listed securities (bonds and equities) and unlisted securities are traded on the LSE. At present, about 2,800 companies are involved in the listed equity segment of the LSE.