Press releases 2009

Europe’s first exchange traded currencies (Currency ETCs) have today commenced trading on the London Stock Exchange. ETF Securities has admitted 18 Currency ETCs to the Main Market, offering long and short passive exposure to G10 currencies versus the US Dollar.

Pietro Poletto, Head of ETFs and ETCs for London Stock Exchange Group said:

“As the number one ETC exchange in Europe, and given London’s reputation as the global centre for foreign exchange trading, we are proud to be the venue of choice for issuers looking to bring this new type of product into Europe.

“We aim to offer investors access to a wide range of investment opportunities while retaining the benefits of simplicity, transparency and central counterparty security that are integral to trading on-exchange. As such we are delighted to continue leading the diversification of Europe’s exchange traded product offering by welcoming ETF Securities’ new products today.”

October 2009 saw record levels of trading in ETFs, ETCs and ETNs across the Group’s markets with number of trades up 76 per cent to 382,000, and value traded up 34 per cent to £9.9 billion compared to the same period last year.

The products admitted to market today are:

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For further information please contact:

Jonny Blostone
Press Office +44 (0)20 7797 1222
newsroom@londonstockexchange.com

Notes to editors:

About London Stock Exchange Group:

London Stock Exchange Group is Europe's leading diversified exchange business, incorporating Borsa Italiana and London Stock Exchange. With over 500 member firms and more than 3,000 companies quoted across its markets, the Group operates the largest and most liquid equity marketplace in Europe.

London Stock Exchange itself is the world's most international exchange with over 600 overseas companies from more than 70 countries quoted on its markets. These figures include international companies on AIM, the London Stock Exchange's growth market, which has grown to become the world's most successful market for small and medium sized enterprises with 1,385 companies at the end of July 2009.

The Group offers trading in a wide range of instruments, holding the number one position in the trading of exchange-traded products (ETFs and ETCs) and through its interest in MTS, is Europe’s leading platform for the trading of fixed income products. Through Borsa Italian’s MOT market it offers a comprehensive range of European corporate and government bond trading services. Its Italian Derivatives Exchange Market (IDEM) sees over €2.5 billion worth of trading every day and through EDX London the Group provides a facility for the trading of Scandinavian and Russian equity derivatives.

London Stock Exchange Group also offers post-trade services such as netting, clearing and settlement on an efficient and competitive basis. These include services from Monte Titoli, the Central Securities Depository for all Italian financial instruments, and Cassa di Compensazione & Garanzia (CC&G), which in July 2009 was granted Recognised Overseas Clearing House (ROCH) status by the FSA to operate in the UK.

Now with the recent acquisition of MillenniumIT, the Group also encompasses a leading developer of low cost high performance trading platforms and financial markets software serving both the industry and the Group's own businesses.