A graphic of the Google stock price is shown on the board 19 August, 2004, on the Nasdaq stock exchange in New York. Nasdaq on 12 December, 2006 formally launched a 2.9 billion-pound hostile takeover bid for the London Stock Exchange, setting shareholders a deadline of January 11 to accept the offer. But LSE management, led by chief executive Clara Furse, rejected the overture, which is equivalent to 4.3 billion euros or 5.5 billion dollars. Europe's biggest stock market had already rejected Nasdaq's informal offer of the same value on November 20. In a statement, Nasdaq said it would post its offer document to LSE shareholders on Tuesday, marking the formal start of the bid process. Getty Images logo Getty Images 38 months ago

A graphic of the Google stock price is shown on the board 19 August, 2004, on the Nasdaq stock exchange in New York. Nasdaq on 12 December, 2006 formally launched a 2.9 billion-pound hostile takeover bid for the London Stock Exchange, setting shareholders a deadline of January 11 to accept the offer. But LSE management, led by chief executive Clara Furse, rejected the overture, which is equivalent to 4.3 billion euros or 5.5 billion dollars. Europe's biggest stock market had already rejected Nasdaq's informal offer of the same value on November 20. In a statement, Nasdaq said it would post its offer document to LSE shareholders on Tuesday, marking the formal start of the bid process.

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  1. City minister Paul Myners speaks at the London Stock Exchange during the launch of the new retail bond market February 1, 2010. The London Stock Exchange has launched a UK retail bond market on Monday by offering trading in seven big names and estimates potential demand at 20 billion pounds ($32.54 billion) that companies could tap to raise financing. The new market is seen as a possible alternative tool for Britain's indebted companies to raise money for growth and to help refinance billions of pounds of bank loans that come due in the next few years.
  2. Chief Executive of the London Stock Exchange Xavier Rolet (L) and stockbroker Paul Killik pose next to giant wooden cubes which spell "Bonds", in London February 1, 2010. The London Stock Exchange has launched a UK retail bond market on Monday by offering trading in seven big names and estimates potential demand at 20 billion pounds ($32.54 billion) that companies could tap to raise financing. The new market is seen as a possible alternative tool for Britain's indebted companies to raise money for growth and to help refinance billions of pounds of bank loans that come due in the next few years.
  3. Chief Executive of the London Stock Exchange Xavier Rolet poses next to giant wooden cubes which spell out "Bonds", in London February 1, 2010. The London Stock Exchange has launched a UK retail bond market on Monday by offering trading in seven big names and estimates potential demand at 20 billion pounds ($32.54 billion) that companies could tap to raise financing. The new market is seen as a possible alternative tool for Britain's indebted companies to raise money for growth and to help refinance billions of pounds of bank loans that come due in the next few years.
  4. LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 01: A London Stock Exchange employee points out a new RBS bond issued today on February 1, 2010 in London, England. The London Stock Exchange has launched a new bond trading market aimed at private investors. The new system will allow UK investors to purchase government and company bonds in denominations as low as 1000 GBP for the first time.
  5. LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 01: A London Stock Exchange employee points out a new RBS bond issued today on February 1, 2010 in London, England. The London Stock Exchange has launched a new bond trading market aimed at private investors. The new system will allow UK investors to purchase government and company bonds in denominations as low as 1000 GBP for the first time.
  6. LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 01: A London Stock Exchange employee points out a new RBS bond issued today on February 1, 2010 in London, England. The London Stock Exchange has launched a new bond trading market aimed at private investors. The new system will allow UK investors to purchase government and company bonds in denominations as low as 1000 GBP for the first time.
  7. LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 01: A London Stock Exchange employee points out a new RBS bond issued today on February 1, 2010 in London, England. The London Stock Exchange has launched a new bond trading market aimed at private investors. The new system will allow UK investors to purchase government and company bonds in denominations as low as 1000 GBP for the first time.
  8. LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 01: City Minister Lord Myners delivers a speech in the London Stock Exchange on February 1, 2010 in London, England. Mr Rolet was promoting the LSE's launch of a new bond trading market aimed at private investors. The new system will allow UK investors to purchase government and company bonds in denominations as low as 1000 GBP for the first time.
  9. Producer Judy Cairo (L), Director Scott Cooper (2nd L), actors Maggie Gyllenhaal (2nd R) and Jeff Bridges pose together in Times Square after ringing the closing bell at the NASDAQ Market to promote their movie "Crazy Heart" in New York December 16, 2009.
  10. Producer Judy Cairo (L), Director Scott Cooper (2nd L), actors Maggie Gyllenhaal (2nd R) and Jeff Bridges pose together in Times Square after ringing the closing bell at the NASDAQ Market to promote their movie "Crazy Heart" in New York December 16, 2009.
  11. Actors Jeff Bridges (L) and Maggie Gyllenhaal (C) and director Scott Cooper ring the closing bell at the NASDAQ stock market while promoting their movie "Crazy Heart" in New York December 16, 2009.
  12. Actors Maggie Gyllenhaal (L) and Jeff Bridges walk through Times Square after ringing the NASDAQ closing bell in New York December 16, 2009.
  13. NEW YORK - DECEMBER 15: Petra Nemcova rings the closing bell at the NASDAQ MarketSite on December 15, 2009 in New York City.
  14. NEW YORK - DECEMBER 15: Petra Nemcova rings the closing bell at the NASDAQ MarketSite on December 15, 2009 in New York City.
  15. NEW YORK - DECEMBER 15: Petra Nemcova rings the closing bell at the NASDAQ MarketSite on December 15, 2009 in New York City.
  16. NEW YORK - DECEMBER 15: Petra Nemcova rings the closing bell at the NASDAQ MarketSite on December 15, 2009 in New York City.

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  10. Dogs play in a snow covered park in Budapest February 10,2010.
  11. Protesters supporting defeated presidential candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka shout slogans against government during a street clash in in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010. Government supporters hurled stones at opposition activists protesting the arrest of their defeated presidential candidate in Sri Lanka's capital Wednesday, in scattered street battles that prompted volleys of tear gas from police.
  12. In this undated photo provided by Xue Mingkai's mother Wang Shuqing, Xue Mingkai, dressed as a security worker, poses for a photo in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province. Xue, a 20-year-old factory worker who joined a banned political party because he was unhappy with one-party rule in China, was sentenced to jail for 18 months Wednesday Feb. 10, 2010, his mother said.
  13. A pro-government protester hurls a stone towards opposition protesters and supporters of the defeated presidential candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka during a street clash in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010. Government supporters hurled stones at opposition activists protesting the arrest of their defeated presidential candidate in Sri Lanka's capital Wednesday, in scattered street battles that prompted volleys of tear gas from police.
  14. Honda Motor Co. headquarters, top, is reflected on the windshield of a Honda vehicle on display, bottom, in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010. Honda Motor Co. says it is adding 17,000 more cars in Japan and elsewhere to an existing global recall for faulty airbags, bringing the latest round of recalls to 437,000. The Feb. 10, 2010 announcement in Tokyo came after Honda said Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010, that it is adding more than 378,000 cars to the recall in the U.S. and Canada.
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