New York Stock Exchange, Stock exchange in Lower Manhattan, US
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange in Lower Manhattan that trades shares and other financial products from more than two thousand companies. The building at 11 Wall Street has stood at the center of global trading for decades and remains a place where brokers still gather on the floor despite the rise of electronic systems.
In May 1792, twenty-four traders signed an agreement under a tree that marked the start of organized stock trading in New York. Over the course of the 19th century, the exchange moved through several locations before settling into its current building in 1903 and growing into the most important trading floor in the world.
Flags hang from the facade to mark moments of global trading significance, reminding visitors of the role this building plays in international finance. Tourists gather outside to photograph what many see as the physical center of American capitalism, while inside brokers in blue jackets continue the work that has shaped markets for generations.
The building stands at 11 Wall Street, just steps from the Wall Street subway station, and the area is most active on weekday mornings. Access to the interior is restricted to staff and registered visitors, but the facade and the street outside remain open to anyone who wants to see the building up close.
Six columns in the Corinthian style stand across the facade, echoing ancient temples and giving the building an almost sacred appearance. Trading here still combines human brokers with electronic systems, creating a rare blend of old practice and new technology that sets the exchange apart from purely digital markets.
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