The New York Stock Exchange has sounded out London Stock Exchange shareholders about buying their stakes after US rival Nasdaq snapped up almost 15% of the LSE a week ago.

The NYSE, via its adviser Citigroup, on Monday approached several LSE shareholders including DE Shaw and Scottish Widows Investment Partnership, which sold part of its stake to Nasdaq on April 11 as part of a foray that netted the US high-tech exchange a 14.99% stake in the LSE.