The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in London, United Kingdom. Founded in 1801, it is one of the largest stock exchanges in the world, with many overseas listings as well as British companies. The exchange is part of the London Stock Exchange Group and so sometimes referred to by the ticker symbol for the group, LSE.
Its current premises are situated in Paternoster Square close to St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London.
The t...
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The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in London, United Kingdom. Founded in 1801, it is one of the largest stock exchanges in the world, with many overseas listings as well as British companies. The exchange is part of the London Stock Exchange Group and so sometimes referred to by the ticker symbol for the group, LSE.
Its current premises are situated in Paternoster Square close to St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London.
The trade in shares in London began with the need to finance two voyages: The Muscovy Company's attempt to reach China via the White Sea north of Russia, and the East India Company voyage to India and the east.
Unable to finance these expensive journeys privately, the companies raised the money by selling shares to merchants, giving them a right to a portion of any profits eventually made.
The idea soon caught on (one of the earliest was the Earl of Bedford's scheme to drain the fens). It is estimated that by 1695, there were 140 joint-stock...
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