The London Stock Exchange and Euronext are expected to make their rival pitches to take over Liffe, the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange, as early as this week.

There are big differences between the approaches of the two with Euronext indicating it will offer at least £15 cash a share, higher than the LSE's £13.50 cash and shares offer. But Liffe has told the bidders that it will not look at offers under £16 a share, valuing the market at just over £500m (&euro795m). However, it now wants to hear detailed views on how the respective exchanges propose to increase value to shareholders through technology, their plans for future growth and what they have to offer management.