HK stock exchange makes $2.2 billion offer for LME Associated Press Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 02:48 a.m., Friday, June 15, 2012 HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong's stock exchange operator said Friday it has agreed to buy the 135-year-old London Metal Exchange for 1.4 billion pounds ($2.2 billion), as it acts on a plan to shift into commodities to capitalize on Chinese demand. Earlier this year, Hong Kong Exchanges' CEO Charles Li said the exchange wanted to move quickly to come up with new products that would capture China's strong demand for commodities before international and mainland Chinese players develop their own.