The London Stock Exchange (LSE) increased its share of foreign equity trading last year despite a drop in the number of foreign companies listed in the UK over the past two years.

London's share of trading in international equities grew from $2.65 trillion (€2.71 trillion) in 2000 to $2.67 trillion in 2001, an increase from 49% to 56%, according to figures from the World Federation of Exchanges (FIBV) and International Financial Services London (IFSL), a UK promotional body.