The London Stock Exchange reported that 2006 already ranks as a record year for IPO issuance.

So far this year, IPOs on the exchange’s markets have raised £17.8 billion, exceeding the £17.4 billion raised by IPOs during the whole of 2000.

During July, the LSE attracted 25 IPOs, raising £7.4 billion between them. On the Main Market, there were eight IPOs, of which three were international companies, raising £3.9 billion between them. The five IPOs on the British Main Market raised a total of £3.0 billion – the best single month since July 2000 in terms of money raised.

On AIM, there were 17 IPOs, raising £563.0 million between them. Of these, four were from international companies, which raised £120.9 million between them.

In the LSE’s secondary market, trading continued to show good growth, it reported. Volume was up 33% on last year. It also noted that trading on the International Order Book was up very strongly on last year. The total number of trades was up 77%, and the value traded increased by 71% to £3.9 billion.

The total number of trades in British equities during the month was up 22% on last year to 6.9 million. The total value traded in British equities during the month was £214.9 billion.