Market Report - February 2005

London Stock Exchange Plc
09 March 2005


News Release


9 March 2005
MR44-02.05


AVERAGE DAILY NUMBER OF TRADES ON LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE EXCEEDS 300,000 FOR THE
                                   FIRST TIME


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.

                                    - ends -





For further information, please contact:

Catherine Mattison     Press Office   [phone]

[e-mail]



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
[e-mail]


•  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



ORDER BOOK TRADING

Order Book Value (£m)                          81,634         153,727           76,303           151,734
Order Book Trades                           3,941,105       7,683,985        3,120,646         6,491,586


                                                       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




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange