Where to find share prices

Shares are bought and sold throughout the working day on the London Stock Exchange and share prices are updated accordingly from the moment the market opens, at 8am.

Up-to-date share prices can be found on the London Stock Exchange website. Companies inform investors about share price performance on their own websites as well.

Once the stockmarket closes at 16.30, closing prices are produced. These are published in newspapers, such as the Financial Times and they are also available on the Exchange’s website and other internet sites.

Sometimes, share prices barely change through the day. At other times, prices can rise or fall by 10 per cent or more. Prices are affected by company announcements, economic announcements and the mood in the financial markets.

• If, for example, a company announces that it has won a major contract, its share price may well rise.
• If the Government announces that unemployment rose significantly in the previous month, share prices may fall as investors worry about the impact on companies’ future performance.