From October 1 to 6, I spent five days in London for the John Locke Global Essay Competition Gala Dinner and the Academic Conference. It was my first international academic event, and I learned so much from students all around the world. The discussions were deep, the people were smart, and the energy was amazing.
I didn’t have much free time, but one thing I really wanted to do was visit the London Stock Exchange. I couldn’t fit it into my schedule, which I regret a bit. Still, being in London made me curious about how the U.K. stock market works compared to the U.S.
The London Stock Exchange, or LSE, is one of the oldest markets in the world. While the New York Stock Exchange is huge and mostly American, the LSE lists companies from over 60 countries. It includes big names like Shell, HSBC, and Unilever.
(photo from Google Maps)
Another difference is the trading hours. The LSE runs from about 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM London time, while the NYSE goes from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM in New York. Because of the time difference, there’s a short overlap when both markets are open, and that’s when a lot of global traders are active.
The U.S. market feels faster and more focused on technology. Companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia drive the headlines almost every day. The U.K. market, on the other hand, has more energy, banking, and industrial companies. It also seems more conservative. A lot of British investors prefer steady, dividend-paying stocks instead of chasing high-growth tech companies.
During the conference, I met students from places like China, Hong Kong, and India. Talking with them made me realize how global investing really is. Japan has the Tokyo Stock Exchange, known for manufacturing and electronics. Europe has Euronext, which connects countries like France and the Netherlands. And Hong Kong is a major link between China and the rest of the world. Even though these markets are in different time zones, they still affect each other. When something big happens in the U.S., you can see the reaction the next morning in London or Tokyo.
Before this trip, I mostly thought about investing as something that only happens in the U.S. But now I see that the stock market is truly global. Even though I couldn’t visit the London Stock Exchange this time, being there made me want to learn more about how the world’s markets connect and move together. Maybe someday I’ll invest in global ETFs or visit other exchanges in person.
What I learned
- The London Stock Exchange is one of the oldest and most international markets.
- The U.K. market focuses more on energy and banking, while the U.S. is more tech-driven.
- Markets in different countries affect each other every day.
- Traveling made me realize that investing is really a global language.
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