The London Stock Exchange saw a total 6.8 million equity trades across its markets during March 2005. This represented an increase of nine per cent on the total number of trades in the same month last year, despite there being two fewer business days in March this year. The average daily number of trades reached 323,152, a new record for the third consecutive month, and an increase of 19 per cent on March 2004. The average daily value traded across the Exchange was £20.9 billion, up six per cent on the same month last year.

The growth in trading continued to be driven by the success of SETS, which recorded new records during March with an average of 206,626 trades per day, up 31 per cent on March 2004. The average daily value traded on SETS was £4.0 billion, an increase of 10 per cent on the same month last year.

Included in the SETS figures, SETSmm saw an average 22,933 trades per day during March 2005, more than twice the number of trades in March 2004. The average daily value traded on SETSmm during the month was £232.4 million, an increase of 59 per cent on the average daily value traded during March last year.

March was also a good month on the primary markets. The Main Market saw seven IPOs during the month, including one international company, from India. IPOs on the main market raised a total of £429.3 million between them. There were 55 IPOs on AIM during March, raising a total of £355.7 million between them.

The total value of ETF trades during March 2005 was £639.8 million. The average daily value traded was £30.5 million, up 53 per cent on the average daily value traded in March last year.

There were 21 business days in March 2005, compared with 23 in March 2004.

For further information, please contact:

Notes to editors:

1. About the London Stock Exchange

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

   The London Stock Exchange is the most international equities exchange by trading in the world and Europe's largest pool of liquidity. In 2004, 80% of all European IPOs floated in London. 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.

   Companies considering flotation have a choice of markets:

   Main Market
   The London Stock Exchange’s Main Market for established companies seeking international recognition is one of the world’s best known, longest established and most liquid markets. It is home to some of the world’s most successful companies, giving them access to one of the deepest pools of capital in the world.

   AIM
   AIM is the London Stock Exchange’s international market specifically designed for smaller, growing companies, combining the benefits of a public flotation with appropriate levels of regulation.

2. IPO

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

3. Indices

   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

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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

   March 2005

   	2005			2004
   DOMESTIC EQUITY TRADING	Month	Year to date		Month	Year to date
   Equity Trading Value (£m)	219,261	621,558		227,000	647,387
   Number of Equity Trades	5,454,795	15,234,272		5,100,181	14,302,950
   INTERNATIONAL EQUITY TRADING
   Equity Trading Value (£m)	219,193	626,013		226,063	616,165
   Number of Equity Trades	1,331,407	3,696,240		1,137,341	2,987,919

   ORDER BOOK TRADING
   Order Book Value (£m)	83,569	237,296		83,268	235,002
   Order Book Trades	4,339,143	12,023,128		3,634,133	10,125,719

   	March 2005	March 2004
   DOMESTIC MARKET CAPITALISATION (£bn)	1,524	1,373
   TOTAL NUMBER OF COMPANIES	2,916	2,693
   Main Market UK	1,446	1,530
   Main Market International	343	371
   of which techMARK	162	177
   AIM	1,127	792

   	2005		2004
   MONEY RAISED (£m)	Month	Year to date	Month	Year to date
   New equity issues: UK Main Market and AIM	664	1,123	751	897
   Further, Rights and Other	1,235	1,578	1,125	2,359
   Bonds, Warrants, Fixed Interest	15,554	36,843	23,148	44,197
   New equity issues: International Main Market	125	1,015	19	19
   Further, Rights and Other	-	69	17	109
   Bonds, Warrants, Fixed Interest	6,670	22,288	8,846	25,380
   COMPANIES ADMITTED	78	152	39	61

   Back to the main press releases branch