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London Stock Exchange plans to launch round-the-clock trading next year, FT reports - Finance news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review
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London Stock Exchange plans to launch round-the-clock trading next year, FT reports

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on July 21, 2026

2 min read

· Last updated: July 21, 2026

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London Stock Exchange to launch round-the-clock trading next year

London Stock Exchange Announces LSE 24 Night-Time Trading Platform

Overview of LSE 24 Launch

July 21 (Reuters) - The London Stock Exchange on Tuesday announced plans to launch LSE 24, a night-time trading site, in the first half of 2027.

LSE's new exchange will operate separately from its main market and will initially offer access to exchange-traded products such as funds tracking the UK or U.S. stock market.

Key Features and Benefits

LSE 24 will give "global investors greater flexibility to respond to market events, access liquidity across time zones and manage risk", the company said in a statement.

Operating Hours and Market Structure

The new exchange will operate from 5 p.m. to 7:50 a.m. London time, with a 30-minute pause between 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. to apply end-of-day processes. The main market will continue to operate under its standard hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Financial Times first reported the details on Monday.

Industry Context and Competitive Landscape

Exchanges have been grappling with the growth of cryptocurrencies and other assets that are not restricted by traditional opening hours, which has raised expectations, particularly among retail traders, of being able to trade at any time.

Global Exchange Initiatives

Nasdaq plans to extend trading to 23 hours on weekdays in December and CME rolled out 24x7 trading of crypto futures and options in late May. Cboe, meanwhile, plans to launch 23x5 trading of U.S. equities on its EDGX Equities Exchange in December.

Additional Information

Reuters provides news for LSEG's news and data terminal, Workspace, and other products.

(Reporting by Fabiola Arámburo in Mexico City and Shashwat Awasthi in BengaluruEditing by Shailesh Kuber, Sonali Paul and David Goodman)

Key Takeaways

  • The London Stock Exchange will introduce a dedicated night‑time trading platform for exchange‑traded products in the first half of 2027, separate from its main market operating 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (lse.co.uk)
  • Proposed LSE hours are 5 p.m. to 7:50 a.m. London time, with a 30‑minute break at 6:30–7 p.m. for end‑of‑day processes (lse.co.uk)
  • Other major exchanges are accelerating extended hours: Nasdaq will shift to 23‑hour weekday trading from December 2026, Cboe received SEC approval for 23×5 trading on EDGX in December 2026, and CME launched 24/7 crypto derivatives trading in May 2026 (nasdaqtrader.com)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the London Stock Exchange launch 24-hour trading?
The London Stock Exchange plans to launch its night-time trading venue in the first half of 2027.
What products will be available on the LSE's new night-time exchange?
The new exchange will initially offer exchange-traded products, such as funds tracking the UK or U.S. stock market.
Will the new round-the-clock trading venue replace the main LSE market?
No, the new trading venue will operate separately from LSE's main market, which will continue its standard hours.
What are the proposed trading hours for LSE’s night-time exchange?
Trading will be available from 5 p.m. to 7:50 a.m. London time, with a 30-minute pause between 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Why is the LSE introducing extended trading hours?
The move responds to rising demand from retail investors and competition from exchanges trading cryptocurrencies and global assets around the clock.

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