London, Jan 19, 2026, 07:58 GMT — Premarket update.
- LSEG finished up 98 pence, or 1.08%, closing at 9,184 pence.
- Starting Monday, Britain’s updated capital-raising rules will raise the threshold for requiring a prospectus.
- LSEG announced an additional batch of share repurchases as part of its ongoing buyback programme.
Shares in London Stock Exchange Group are under the spotlight ahead of Monday’s London open, following Britain’s shift to a lighter-touch rulebook for capital raises. This move aims to lure more deals back to the market. The stock closed Friday up 98 pence, or 1.08%, at 9,184 pence and is set to reopen at 0800 GMT. (Hargreaves Lansdown)
The new Public Offers and Admissions to Trading rules took effect Monday, trimming the timeline for when companies must publish a prospectus — that dense disclosure document investors see before buying shares. The move is part of a wider push to jumpstart London’s equity market. Britain’s finance minister Rachel Reeves plans to highlight the changes in a speech at the London Stock Exchange, following a drop to just nine new main market listings last year, Reuters reported. (Reuters)
The threshold for follow-on equity issuance has been raised: companies now usually require a prospectus only when issuing shares amounting to 75% of their existing share capital within 12 months, up from the former 20%, according to a Skadden note on the rule change. (Skadden)
LSEG announced additional buybacks, purchasing 108,969 shares on Jan. 16. Prices ranged from 9,052 to 9,238 pence, averaging 9,176.98 pence per share. The company plans to cancel these shares. (TradingView)
Investors are focusing less on the rule changes themselves and more on whether they translate into action. A quicker flow of equity raises and IPOs could boost primary market and trading fees at the London Stock Exchange, despite LSEG’s main revenue coming from data and post-trade services.
UK equities have started the year on a stronger note. On Jan. 5, the FTSE 100 climbed above 10,000 for the first time, closing at 10,004.57, according to FTSE Russell. (LSEG)
However, the regulatory shift might not spark a flood of deals. Lawyers caution that companies targeting U.S. investors often still face U.S.-style paperwork, and risk appetite can sour fast once politics get involved. On Monday, a new round of tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump unsettled European markets early on. (Reuters)
Buybacks offer some support, but LSEG shares usually track expectations around market and clearing activity. Even with rules designed to ease fundraising, a quiet tape or a steep “risk-off” move can drag volumes lower.
Traders in the upcoming session will look closely for early indications that companies are ready to accept the steeper 75% threshold — particularly in secondary offerings where timing is critical and fees can spike with any hold-up.
LSEG’s next key event is its preliminary results for the year ending Dec. 31, 2025, set for release on Feb. 26. (LSEG)
