Topic: London Stock Exchange

The euro zone is facing its darkest hour but will emerge more competitive than in the past, the chief executive of the London Stock Exchange told CNBC on Friday, though he noted that smaller businesses are very important to Europe’s recovery.

European shares closed broadly lower on Wednesday as concerns around Greece's political and financial crisis sapped risk appetite and with strategists advising investors to buy defensive stocks.

European shares provisionally closed at their lowest level since the start of 2012, led by a fresh slide in euro zone banks, after attempts to form a government in Greece collapsed.

European shares closed sharply down on Monday with investors' euro zone worries ignited by Greece's continuing political impasse.

European shares ended in positive territory on Friday, after a late rally on the back of positive U.S. economic data erased earlier losses, although many investors remained concerned over the health of Spain's banks and Greece's political impasse.

European shares fell sharply on Friday after worse-than-expected jobs data from the United States dealt a fresh blow to recovery expectations for the world's largest economy.

Britain's FTSE 100 extended gains to close higher on Tuesday after the release of stronger than expected U.S. factory data.

Europe's top share index rose on Friday as bumper corporate results from the likes of Sandvik helped offset fresh macroeconomic gloom after U.S. growth data missed forecasts and Spain was hit by a double ratings downgrade.

Mixed corporate earnings and economic data left European shares little changed on Thursday, pausing after a two-session rally.

European shares closed higher on Wednesday, extending the previous day's tentative recovery from three-month lows as upbeat results soothed investors' worries over the earnings season and eclipsed lingering fears over the euro zone debt crisis.

European shares closed higher on Tuesday, bouncing back after sharp falls in the previous session helped by some strength from banks, though traders placed very little faith in a market recovery given persistent concerns about the euro zone debt situation.

European shares closed higher on Tuesday after the U.S. open, led by banks after a well-received Spanish debt auction, an upbeat German economic sentiment reading and positive U.S. corporate earnings releases.

Europe's shares closed higher on Monday after stronger than expected U.S. retail sales data, boosted confidence in the health of the world's biggest economy.

European shares extended their losses in afternoon trade closing at a session low on Friday led lower by euro zone banking stocks on fresh concerns about the finances of Spain and Italy.

European stocks closed higher on Thursday, tracking gains in U.S. equities as basic resources shares extended gains, led higher by mining stocks on trader talk that China growth data could come in better than expected on Friday.