The move by the LSE highlights the intense competition between it and the Deutsche B rse since their merger talks fell apart last year. The listing of all the Dow component shares has prompted speculation of a closer relationship with the derivatives exchange Liffe, which offers future contracts on a number of Dow constituents. She added that the LSE talks regularly with all exchanges. The goal of the exchanges is to offer investors the ability to trade in the world's top blue chips at any time of the day. The key though will be to attract meaningful trading volumes in shares whose primary listings are in a different time zones.
Investors prefer trading in one deep pool of liquidity to ensure they get the best price.
The NYSE last year launched its Global Equity Market alliance of 10 exchanges, which includes Euronext in Europe, and the Tokyo Stock Exchange, but details are scant.