Open day: London Stock Exchange tradition revived

Chancellor George Osborne today resurrected the traditional formal opening of the London Stock Exchange.

Gone are the ever-sliding balls on wires known as The Source, installed when the LSE moved into its Paternoster Square headquarters seven years ago.

In their place are massive trading screens around the walls. A one-minute countdown to the market's official opening was projected onto a huge globe hanging in the middle of the atrium. Similar ceremonies will be held for new listings and VIP visitors.

At 8am Osborne, with LSE chief executive Xavier Rolet, far left, LSE non-executive director Gay huey Evans and chairman Chris Gibson-Smith, right, inserted a large perspex key to flash up the message Market Open.