Update: LSE shares soar as ICE mulls counter bid to head off Deutsche Boerse

Previously in discussions with German stock exchange

The owner of the New York Stock Exchange, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), is considering making a bid for the London Stock Exchange (LSE), just a week after the latter said it was in merger talks with Deutsche Boerse.

Shares in the LSE soared almost 8% in early trading following ICE's announcement it is considering the counter offer. No approach has been made to the board of LSE, and a decision has not yet been made as to whether to pursue an offer, ICE said. LSE was the highest riser on the FTSE 100 this morning, climbing 7.5% to £28.81 per share on the back of the announcement. Former Standard Life CEO Nish joins LSE board The move is said to be an attempt to thwart a merger with German stock exchange Deutsche Boerse. Last week, LSE, backed by Invesco Perpetual's Mark Barnett and Aviva I...