New York Stock Exchange (Wall Street)

Overview

The New York Stock Exchange in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at US$30.1 trillion as of February 2018. The average daily trading value was approximately US$169 billion in 2013. The NYSE trading floor is at the New York Stock Exchange Building on 11 Wall Street and 18 Broad Street and is a National Historic Landmark. An additional trading room, at 30 Broad Street, was closed in February 2007.

Wall Street is the leading US money center for international financial activities and the foremost US location for the conduct of wholesale financial services. The principal sectors are securities industry, commercial banking, asset management, and insurance.

Building

The main New York Stock Exchange Building, built in 1903, was designed in the Beaux Arts style by George B. Post. The adjacent structure at 11 Wall Street, completed in 1922, was designed in a similar style by Trowbridge & Livingston. The buildings were both designated a National Historic Landmark in 1978. 18 Broad Street is also a New York City designated landmark.

Trading

The New York Stock Exchange (sometimes referred to as "The Big Board")[42] provides a means for buyers and sellers to trade shares of stock in companies registered for public trading. The NYSE is open for trading Monday through Friday from 9:30 am - 4:00 pm ET, with the exception of holidays declared by the Exchange in advance.

The NYSE trades in a continuous auction format, where traders can execute stock transactions on behalf of investors. They will gather around the appropriate post where a specialist broker, who is employed by a NYSE member firm (that is, he/she is not an employee of the New York Stock Exchange), acts as an auctioneer in an open outcry auction market environment to bring buyers and sellers together and to manage the actual auction. They do on occasion (approximately 10% of the time) facilitate the trades by committing their own capital and as a matter of course disseminate information to the crowd that helps to bring buyers and sellers together. The auction process moved toward automation in 1995 through the use of wireless handheld computers (HHC). The system enabled traders to receive and execute orders electronically via wireless transmission. On September 25, 1995, NYSE member Michael Einersen, who designed and developed this system, executed 1000 shares of IBM through this HHC ending a 203-year process of paper transactions and ushering in an era of automated trading.

Opening and closing bells

The NYSE's opening and closing bells mark the beginning and the end of each trading day. The opening bell is rung at 9:30 am ET to mark the start of the day's trading session. At 4 pm ET the closing bell is rung and trading for the day stops. There are bells located in each of the four main sections of the NYSE that all ring at the same time once a button is pressed. There are three buttons that control the bells, located on the control panel behind the podium which overlooks the trading floor. The main bell, which is rung at the beginning and end of the trading day, is controlled by a green button. The second button, colored orange, activates a single-stroke bell that is used to signal a moment of silence. A third, red button controls a backup bell which is used in case the main bell fails to ring.

Fearless Girl Statue

Standing boldly in the heart of Lower Manhattan’s Financial District, the Fearless Girl statue has become an enduring symbol of courage, equality, and quiet defiance. Installed near the New York Stock Exchange, the bronze figure depicts a young girl with hands on her hips, chin lifted, and gaze fixed forward with unwavering determination. For visitors, the experience of encountering Fearless Girl feels almost cinematic—the towering neoclassical façade of Wall Street behind her contrasts with her small yet commanding presence, making the message unmistakable: even the smallest voices can challenge the most powerful institutions. Tourists from around the world gather to photograph the statue, often mirroring her pose, transforming the space into a dynamic conversation between art, finance, and social change.

Originally unveiled in 2017 as part of a campaign promoting gender diversity in corporate leadership, Fearless Girl quickly resonated beyond its intended message, becoming a global icon of empowerment. Sculpted by artist Kristen Visbal, the statue was first positioned facing the famous Charging Bull before being relocated to its current home at the Stock Exchange, where it continues to inspire millions. As you stand beside her, the energy of Wall Street hums in the background—traders rushing, flags fluttering overhead, and history unfolding in real time—yet the statue remains a moment of stillness and reflection. For travelers, Fearless Girl offers more than a photo opportunity; it is a reminder that resilience and bravery can reshape even the most established traditions.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "New York Stock Exchange", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0