February 2005 saw an average 308,932 trades each day across the London Stock Exchange’s markets, exceeding the record daily average of 298,284 trades set only the previous month. This is the first time that the average daily number of trades has reached over 300,000, and represents a 16 per cent increase on the average daily number of trades in February last year. The average daily value traded was £21.2 billion, up 8 per cent on the same month last year.

The record trading has been driven by the continuing growth of SETS, with the average daily number of trades on SETS at 197,055 during the month, up 26 per cent on February 2004. The average daily value traded on SETS was £4.1 billion, up 7 per cent on the same month last year.

February was also a strong month on the London Stock Exchange’s primary markets. There were 11 new companies on the main market, including one each from Israel, Korea and Russia. The total money raised by IPOs on the main market was £1.2 billion. International companies joining the main market during February raised more money than in any single month since February 2001. There were 30 IPOs on AIM during February, raising £159.3 million between them.

There were 20 trading days in February 2005, the same number as in February 2004.

For further information, please contact:

Notes to editors:

• About the London Stock Exchange

  The London Stock Exchange is one of the world’s foremost equity exchanges and a leading provider of services that facilitate the raising of capital and the trading of shares.

  The London Stock Exchange is the most international equities exchange by trading in the world and Europe's largest pool of liquidity. By the end of 2004, the market capitalisation of UK and international companies on the London Stock Exchange’s markets amounted to £3.5 trillion, with £4.7 trillion of equity business transacted over the year.

  The London Stock Exchange is a Recognised Investment Exchange (RIE) under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and is supervised by the Financial Services Authority.

• SETS – the electronic order book

  It is over seven years since the launch of SETS and the service continues to go from strength to strength. Overall, the market is benefiting from tighter spreads and greater liquidity. Usage of SETS continues to grow, as shown by recent record increases in the number of orders entered, the number of firms using the order book and order book share of business.

  Indices are calculated and managed by FTSE Group, a world-leader in the creation and management of global equity indices. The FTSE Group is jointly owned by the London Stock Exchange and the Financial Times, but operates as a wholly autonomous company.

  For information about the company or any FTSE indices, please contact media@ftse.com

• IPO

  An IPO or Initial Public Offering is when a new company joins our market and raises capital by issuing shares. This excludes transfers and introductions (when companies join the market without raising money).

• SETSmm

  SETSmm is the Exchange’s successful trading service for FTSE 250 and other leading non order book securities. By combining the best features of the existing SETS and SEAQ trading services, SETSmm appeals to market users who want to trade electronically, as well as those customers who use the market making system.

• Retail Trading Figures

  Retail trading figures are available from our website at –
  www.londonstockexchange.com/en-gb/products/membershiptrading/retailtradestat
  Figures are available from November 2002 to date.

LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE MONTHLY FACTSHEET FIGURES

February 2005

	2005			2004
DOMESTIC EQUITY TRADING	Month	Year to date		Month	Year to date
Equity Trading Value (£m)	205,528	402,297		210,638	420,387
Number of Equity Trades	5,026,617	9,779,477		4,439,050	9,202,769
INTERNATIONAL EQUITY TRADING
Equity Trading Value (£m)	217,628	406,820		179,857	390,102
Number of Equity Trades	1,152,019	2,264,833		882,496	1,850,578

	February 2005	February 2004
DOMESTIC MARKET CAPITALISATION (£bn)	1,551	1,402
TOTAL NUMBER OF COMPANIES	2,865	2,673
UK list	1,454	1,539
Foreign	346	373
AIM	1,065	761
of which techMARK	165	176

	2005		2004
MONEY RAISED (£m)	Month	Year to date	Month	Year to date
UK & AIM New Issues Equity	447	459	62	146
Further, Rights and Other	131	293	246	1,234
Bonds, Warrants, Fixed Interest	10,285	21,465	4,441	21,050
Int. New Issues Equity	890	890	-	-
Further, Rights and Other	-	69	-	91
Bonds, Warrants, Fixed Interest	10,609	15,617	7,948	16,533
COMPANIES ADMITTED	52	74	11	22

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