LSE 24 hour Trading Plans: The London Stock Exchange (LSE) plans to launch a night-time trading platform in the first half of 2027, according to a report by the Financial Times, cited by news agency Reuters.
Separate Platform for Exchange-Traded Products
According to the FT, the new platform will operate separately from the LSE’s main market and will initially offer trading in exchange-traded products, including funds tracking the UK and US stock markets.
Shift Towards Extended Trading Hours
The report said the move comes as exchanges respond to the growth of cryptocurrencies and other assets that trade beyond traditional market hours, increasing demand, particularly among retail investors, for round-the-clock trading.
Reuters noted that Nasdaq plans to extend trading to 23 hours on weekdays from December. CME launched 24/7 trading in crypto futures and options in late May, while Cboe plans to introduce 23×5 trading for US equities on its EDGX Equities Exchange in December.
According to the FT, the new LSE platform will operate from 5:00 p.m. to 7:50 a.m. London time, with a 30-minute pause between 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to complete end-of-day processes. The exchange’s main market will continue to operate during its regular hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
LSE Chief Executive Julia Hoggett told the Financial Times that there is growing demand, particularly from retail investors globally, “to use London given our particular timezone, to gain exposure to not only UK assets but global assets,” according to the report.
