Two questions: Why? And how much did it cost?
Press release from the London Stock Exchange:
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon George Osborne MP, today launched the London Stock Exchange’s new market open ceremony in Paternoster Square.
The new ceremony will be a globally recognised symbol of London as a world class financial and business centre, synonymous with its history, breadth of expertise and deep pool of international liquidity.
The installation is one of the largest of its type in the world, with over 500 high definition LED screens, a giant central illuminated globe and a bespoke ‘market open’ mechanism. Companies listing on the most international capital market in the world will be invited to open the market at 8am, signalling the start of London market trading.
And the reality from one lucky guest:
Not quite the NYSE, is it?
(For the record FT Alphaville was NFI. And no, we are not bitter).