London Stock Exchange Group PLC (LSE:LSEG) boss David Schwimmer has dismissed suggestions the UK market might be sold to an overseas bidder.
The exchange is a core part of the business, he told the Standard, even though it is only now a small part of group revenues.
“The LSE is absolutely core to our business.
"If you think about how we serve our customers, to be the primary exchange in Europe that is absolutely core to what we do.”
“The trading on the LSE creates data that informs what it is able to share with clients across the world,” he added.
Nasdaq is a name often mentioned when talking about possible bidders, but the LSE's home and ownership are in London, Schwimmer insisted.
“I would encourage you to ask those people who are raising doubts where they think would be a better home for this venerable institution,” he added.
A merger between the LSE and Frankfurt's Deutsche Boerse was blocked on competition grounds by the EU in 2017.
Schwimmer was talking after the group’s latest results, where he commented that the dearth of IPOs in London might be coming to an end, noting an encouraging pipeline without giving details.
Shares were down 0.3% at 8,800p with the results seen as in line with forecasts beforehand.