Very strong trading during August has underlined the London Stock Exchange's position as the world's fastest growing major equity exchange this year, with 50 per cent growth in the number of trades on SETS during the first eight months of 2006 compared with the same period last year.

During August the number of trades on SETS increased 50 per cent year on year to a total of 6.3 million trades, an average of 285,866 trades daily. The value traded on SETS during the month increased 31 per cent to £110.7 billion, equivalent to £5.0 billion per day.

Trading on SETSmm was particularly noteworthy, with year on year growth of 121 per cent taking the total number of trades on SETSmm during August to 1.3 million. The value traded on SETSmm in August increased 76 per cent to £9.4 billion.

The overall SETS figures included very strong growth in trading on the International Order Book. The total number of trades increased 94 per cent on the same period last year to 55,712, while the value traded increased by 122 per cent to £5.1 billion.

Trading in all UK equities during August increased 37 per cent on the same period last year to 7.0 million. The value traded in UK equities during the month increased 20 per cent to £227.7 billion.

The total number of trades in ETFs increased 56 per cent on August last year to 15,949 trades, while the value traded grew 53 per cent to £1.0 billion.

On the primary market, AIM had a good month, with 19 IPOs raising £328.6 between them. This total included six IPOs from international companies, which raised £146.9 million between them. There was one IPO on the Main Market in August, which raised £37.5 million.

RNS, the Exchange's service for the dissemination of company news, transmitted a total of 16,981 announcements during August, up 16 per cent on August last year. This included 4,473 news and results announcements.

There were 22 trading days in August 2006, the same number as the previous year.