London Stock Exchange is launching LSE 24, a new regulated trading venue offering near-continuous trading five days a week, with client testing scheduled to begin by the end of 2026 and commercial launch targeted for the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory approval. The venue addresses growing investor demand for market access outside traditional exchange hours and the rapid rise of automated trading technologies. The move represents one of the biggest structural changes to the London Stock Exchange's trading model in decades.
LSE 24 Operates Separately from Main Market with Extended Hours
LSE 24 will operate separately from the London Stock Exchange's Main Market rather than replacing it. While the Main Market will continue to trade between 08:00 and 16:30 UK time, LSE 24 will cover the remaining hours of the trading day.
The new venue will operate from 17:00 to 07:50, with a 30-minute pause between 18:30 and 19:00 for end-of-day processing. Together, the two venues will provide investors with almost continuous weekday access to London-listed instruments.
Initially, LSE 24 will focus on exchange-traded products, including ETFs and other listed investment vehicles. The exchange said ETPs are a natural first asset class because of London's position as one of Europe's largest ETP markets and growing international demand for products that provide diversified exposure across global markets. Equities are expected to follow once the platform is established.
The venue will combine elements of a traditional central limit order book with request-for-quote functionality, allowing participants to access transparent pricing while improving liquidity during extended trading hours.
Julia Hoggett, CEO of London Stock Exchange plc and Head of Digital and Securities Markets at LSEG, said the launch marks an important step in the evolution of the exchange's markets, providing clients with greater flexibility beyond traditional trading hours and supporting more digital, connected global markets.
Venue Designed for Algorithmic and AI-Driven Trading
LSE 24 has been designed with automated and AI-enabled trading in mind from the outset. The exchange said the venue will provide native connectivity for agentic trading, allowing software agents and AI systems to interact directly with market data, order management systems and execution workflows while operating within the governance framework of a regulated exchange.
By creating infrastructure specifically designed for these workflows, LSEG is positioning LSE 24 to accommodate a new generation of institutional trading technology while maintaining regulatory oversight and operational resilience.
Digital Securities Depository Integration Planned
Subject to regulatory approval, LSE 24 will connect to LSEG's planned Digital Securities Depository, which is being developed to support the issuance, settlement and servicing of digital financial assets.
The Digital Securities Depository is intended to modernize post-trade infrastructure by enabling tokenized securities and digital settlement processes while remaining compatible with existing financial market infrastructure. According to LSEG, the depository will expand across multiple asset classes over time and interoperate with other market participants.
Extended Trading Hours Trend Accelerates Globally
Investor demand for continuous market access has increased as retail participation grows, global portfolios become more diversified and geopolitical developments increasingly occur outside traditional market hours. In the United States, several exchanges and alternative trading systems have announced plans to support extended or 24-hour trading, while cryptocurrency markets have long accustomed investors to continuous trading every day of the year.
FAQ
What is LSE 24 and when will it launch?
LSE 24 is a new regulated trading venue being launched by London Stock Exchange to offer near-continuous trading five days a week. Client testing is scheduled to begin by the end of 2026, with commercial launch targeted for the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory approval.
What hours will LSE 24 operate?
LSE 24 will operate from 17:00 to 07:50 UK time, with a 30-minute pause between 18:30 and 19:00 for end-of-day processing. This complements the Main Market's trading hours of 08:00 to 16:30, providing almost continuous weekday access to London-listed instruments.
What products will trade on LSE 24 initially?
LSE 24 will initially focus on exchange-traded products, including ETFs and other listed investment vehicles. Equities are expected to follow once the platform is established.
