The LSE has now been in play for more than a year

In a statement three weeks ahead of schedule, the LSE said that its pre-tax profit for the final three months of 2006 rose 12% to �44.2m ($85.7m).

Revenues were up across all parts of its business, the LSE said.

On Monday, the Nasdaq had said its �2.7bn ($5.2bn) bid remained the best deal for LSE shareholders.

'Unprepared'

In a response to the LSE's statement, the Nasdaq said that the results showed nothing new.

"These results take no account of the impact that growing customer dissatisfaction, the new competitive threats introduced by upcoming regulatory changes, or accelerating consolidation will have on LSE's future financial performance," Nasdaq said.

But the LSE said its "excellent" performance - which included a 53% rise in profits before exceptional items for the nine months to the end of December - "supports the board's rejection of Nasdaq's offer".

The bid "significantly undervalues the business and the exchange's unique strategic position", it said.

LSE shares have more than trebled over the past two years as it has attracted - and rejected - a procession of suitors including pan-European market Euronext and Germany's Deutsche Boerse.