No one can accuse Xavier Rolet of complacency. The latest move by the London Stock Exchange’s new chief – to build a UK clearing service as an alternative to incumbents LCH.Clearnet and Switzerland’s SIX x-clear – follows a slew of initiatives since he took the LSE’s helm in May that echo the trademark hyperactivity of fellow countryman Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President.

Highlights include the $30m (€21m) purchase of Sri Lankan software group MillenniumIT, the dismissal of 12% of the group's staff and starting exclusive talks to buy alternative trading system Turquoise, a move first reported by Financial News last week.