SWF Radar LSE

China Daily reports that, “There will be 100 Chinese companies listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) by 2010, jumping from the existing 74, the Lord Mayor of the City of London [David Lewis] said on Friday.”

According to the article, Lewis also said that the China Investment Corporation (CIC) and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) have both shown interest in London’s property market.

“CIC’s spokeswoman Bai Xiaoqing said that the sovereign fund spoke about such investment opportunities with the City of London but has not made any material investment so far,” the article adds.

The Financial Times reports that, “Clara Furse, chief executive of the London Stock Exchange, on Tuesday held talks with officials in Qatar, home to the exchange's second largest shareholder, amid continuing investor concern over the LSE's wilting share price. People familiar with the situation said the talks were likely to include progress on a months-old plan to help the Doha Securities Market expand its trading platform, and develop the emirate's capital market in the wider Gulf region. They would not confirm whether Ms Furse would be meeting the Qatar Investment Authority, the emirate's sovereign wealth fund, which holds a 14.93 per cent stake in the LSE.”

Financial News reports (subscription required) that, “Two Gulf states that bought almost half of the London Stock Exchange last year are sitting on paper losses of up to £400m (€500m), after the bourse’s stock was buffeted by panicky markets and the rise of rival venues.”

Reuters reports that, “Borse Dubai said on Sunday it would consider selling a stake in the London Stock Exchange Group to Qatar, but had not received any approaches and was unlikely to sell any stake in the short term.”

The Independent reports that, “The Qatar Investment Authority is understood to want to increase its stake in the London Stock Exchange, possibly by trying to buy the holding owned by its rival, [Borse Dubai]. Sources close to the exchange say that Qatar, which owns a 14 per cent shareholding, is interested in picking up Dubai’s 20 per cent stake, which it bought last year from Nasdaq after the US exchange’s failed bid for the LSE.”

Bloomberg reports that, “Borse Dubai Ltd, which offered to buy OMX AB, agreed to $5.8 billion of loans with a group of international banks to help pay for the acquisition and the shares of London Stock Exchange Group Ltd it plans to purchase.”

Reuters reports that, “Talks between Qatar Holding and Borse Dubai about exchanging shares in the London Stock Exchange and Nordic rival OMX have progressed and a deal is close, said people familiar with the matter.”

Reuters reports that, “The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is talking to the Dubai government to end their bid battle over the London Stock Exchange (LSE) by exchanging their shares in the LSE and Nordic exchange group OMX.”

Business Intelligence Middle East reports Thursday that, “Borse Dubai will decide how much to borrow after Swedish regulators decide on its OMX takeover offer, Chief Executive Officer Per Larsson said in an interview today, declining to specify an amount.”

The Khaleej Times reported on Tuesday that, “Borse Dubai has agreed financing with HSBC Holdings Plc to help finance its stakes in the Nordic and Baltic exchange OMX and the London Stock Exchange (LSE).”