Deutsche Bank is thought to have toppled Merrill Lynch from its customary top slot as the broker with the largest share of London Stock Exchange equity trading. The result could hardly be better-timed for the equities division of Deutsche as the German bank gears up for what is effectively a takeover of Dresdner.

According to LSE statistics, which few brokers have yet seen, Deutsche was number one in February with an extraordinary 17.5% market share.