Hot property: LSE attracts European and US interest

The London Stock Exchange is being courted by its European rivals in the wake of Swedish technology firm OM's failed attempt to take over the exchange and the collapse of proposed merger with the Deutsche Börse.

The offer of talks from the combined Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris exchanges, Euronext, comes as Nasdaq is also seeking an accord with the LSE. Don Cruickshank, chairman of the LSE, last night said his priority is still with appointing a new chief executive and board of directors and consulting with shareholders on their priorities. Jean-Francois Theodore, chairman and chief executive of Euronext said he was available to talk to the LSE, the potential of which he described as "enormous".