So the nationalist argument won after all, bolstered by the impeccable business case put by Clara Furse and the London Stock Exchange board.

This is a departure from recent events where much of the UK’s prime and strategic assets have been sold off to less than glittering buyers from all over the world.

Clara Furse can be proud of her unyielding defence of the centrepiece of Britain’s powerful financial centre in the City of London.

Inevitably, the discussion moves on to : what next? As if just doing the job is not enough for our news hungry generation.

Talk is that the LSE may link up with the New York Stock Exchange and participate in its forcoming wedding with Euronext. What was that the late Princess Diana said about three in a marriage?

Given her record of doughty defence of the LSE’s independence, why would she suddenly cave in to John Thain’s overtures? Better an all-out assault against a weakened Nasdaq to turn the tables. But I doubt relations would be good following a successful outcome and Furse has been as reluctant to go on the offensive as she has been stout in defence.

There are many options open to the London exchange now. Which it chooses to follow will be of absorbing interest during the rest of this year.