The London Stock Exchange (LSE) was founded in 1571 as a joint stock company and is one of the world's oldest stock exchanges. Located in London, United Kingdom, it is now part of the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), which was created in 2007 after LSE's merger with Borsa Italiana (though [[Borsa Italiana]] was later sold to Euronext in 2021). Key features: - One of the largest global stock exchanges - Main market for premium listings of UK and international companies - Operates several markets including: * Main Market (for established companies) * AIM (for growing companies) * International Securities Market - Provides indices like the FTSE 100 - Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Ownership: - Publicly traded company (LSEG) - Major shareholders include: * The Qatar Investment Authority * BlackRock * Thomson Reuters * Other institutional investors The LSE plays a crucial role in global financial markets and London's status as a major international financial center.