Time to keep close eye on London Stock Exchange Group
UK companies have been attracting takeover bids with alarming regularity, and the domestic stock exchange is responding. Independent analyst Alistair Strang assesses the potential impact on its share price.
22nd July 2026 07:30
by Alistair Strang from Trends and Targets
The London Stock Exchange (LSE) has recently faced significant challenges, particularly due to a wave of takeover bids that have seen companies acquired at substantial premiums above their current share prices. A striking example is easyJet, whose takeover bid values the company at an 81% premium over its traded price. While this is undoubtedly positive news for shareholders, it also means that valuable companies are disappearing from the FTSE 250 index, weakening the diversity and appeal of the exchange’s listings.
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In response to these pressures, the London Stock Exchange Group (LSE:LSEG) is taking proactive steps to revitalize investor interest. The group plans to introduce a new trading platform, LSE24, which will operate 24 hours a day, five days a week. This initiative aims to compete with the growing popularity of cryptocurrency markets and more dynamic overseas exchanges by offering continuous trading opportunities.
Importantly, LSE24 will function independently from the existing LSE Main Market, which will maintain its current trading hours. The new platform is expected to launch in early 2027, marking a significant evolution in the LSE’s approach to market engagement.
The introduction of LSE24 could provide a much-needed boost to LSEG’s share price, which has struggled to recover from the market disruptions experienced since 2020. Currently, the share price sits below 8,000p, a critical support level. If this level fails to hold, the price could fall to 7,286p, with a further decline to 6,312p possible if that support is breached.
On the upside, a move above 8,750p could trigger a positive momentum, initially targeting 8,866p. Should this resistance be overcome, the share price may advance further to 9,139p. A sustained close above 9,139p would open the door to a more substantial rally, potentially reaching 10,408p and beyond.
Investors and market watchers should keep a close eye on these key price levels as the LSE embarks on this new chapter. The success of the 24-hour trading platform could be pivotal in restoring confidence and attracting renewed interest to the UK’s flagship stock exchange.
Source: Trends and Targets. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.
Alistair Strang has led high-profile and "top secret" software projects since the late 1970s and won the original John Logie Baird Award for inventors and innovators. After the financial crash, he wanted to know "how it worked" with a view to mimicking existing trading formulas and predicting what was coming next. His results speak for themselves as he continually refines the methodology.
Alistair Strang is a freelance contributor and not a direct employee of Interactive Investor. All correspondence is with Alistair Strang, who for these purposes is deemed a third-party supplier. Buying, selling and investing in shares is not without risk. Market and company movement will affect your performance and you may get back less than you invest. Neither Alistair Strang or Interactive Investor will be responsible for any losses that may be incurred as a result of following a trading idea.
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