New York Stock Exchange History

The New York Stock Exchange traces its origins to 1792, when 24 New York City stockbrokers and merchants signed the Buttonwood Agreement. This agreement set in motion the NYSE’s unwavering commitment to investors and issuers.
The historic combination of NYSE Group and Euronext in 2007 marked a milestone for global financial markets. It brought together major marketplaces across Europe and the United States whose histories stretch back more than four centuries. The combination was by far the largest of its kind and the first to create a truly global marketplace group.

NYSE Timeline

1653 - 1859
1653 Stockade Erected in Manhattan
A 12-foot-high wood stockade is erected across lower Manhattan from river to river to protect Dutch settlers from attacks by the British and Indians.


1685 Wall Street Laid Out
Surveyors lay out Wall Street along the line of the stockade.


1790 US Investment Markets Born
The federal government refinances all federal and state Revolutionary War debt, issuing $80 million in bonds. These become the first major issues of publicly traded securities, marking the birth of the U.S. investment markets.


1792 Five Securities Traded
There are five securities traded in New York City. Three are government bonds and two are bank stocks.


Buttonwood Agreement
Twenty-four prominent brokers and merchants gather on Wall Street to sign the Buttonwood Agreement, agreeing to trade securities on a commission basis. The New York Stock Exchange traces its beginnings to this historic pact.


1815 Securities Market Grows
In the aftermath of the War of 1812, the market for securities in New York begins to grow. Along with government bonds, bank and insurance stocks now trade.


1817 Rules and a Constitution
A constitution with rules for the conduct of business is adopted.


Call Market Procedure
Stocks are traded in a "call market." The president reads out the list of stocks as the brokers trade each security in turn. There are two trading sessions each day, one in the morning and another in the afternoon.


NY Brokers Form NYS & EB
The New York brokers establish a formal organization, the New York Stock & Exchange Board (NYS&EB) and rent rooms at 40 Wall Street. They adopt a constitution with rules for the conduct of business.


1824 Peak of 380,000 Shares
Annual trading at the NYS&EB had reached a peak of 380,000 shares by 1824, which declined to 15 percent of that number by 1829, remaining low through 1831.


1825 Erie Canal Opens
The opening of the Erie Canal makes New York City the seaboard gateway for the Great Lakes region. New York State bonds, issued to finance the canal, are traded actively on the Exchange.


1830 Railroads Dominate Trading
The first railroad stock, Mohawk & Hudson, is traded on the NYS&EB. Railroad securities will dominate trading for the rest of the 1800s.


1835 Volume reaches 8,500 Shares
Average daily volume reaches 8,500 shares, a 50-fold increase in just seven years.


The Great Fire
The Great Fire destroys over 700 buildings in lower Manhattan. The NYS&EB moves to temporary headquarters.


1836 Trading Prohibited in Streets
The NYS&EB prohibits its members from trading in the street.


1837 Average Daily Volume Falls
Following the Panic of 1837, the average daily volume falls from 7,393 in January to 1,534 by June.


1844 Telegraph is Invented
The telegraph is invented, broadening market participation by facilitating communication with brokers and investors outside New York City.


1853 Complete Statements Required
The NYSE strengthens its listing standards, requiring companies to provide complete statements of shares outstanding and capital resources.


1857 Panic of 1857
The Ohio Life Insurance & Trust Company collapses. Prices drop eight to ten percent in the course of a single trading session, the culmination of a 45% decline in market value since the beginning of the year.


1860 - 1899
1861 Outbreak of the Civil War
At the outbreak of the Civil War, the NYS&EB suspends trading in securities of seceding states.


1863 New Name
The New York Stock & Exchange Board becomes the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).


1865 NYSE Moves into Permanent Home
The Exchange moves to 10-12 Broad Street, just south of Wall Street. This move, together with subsequent purchases of adjacent land, establishes Wall and Broad as the center of securities trading in America.


Lincoln is Assassinated
The Exchange closes for more than a week following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.


1866 NYSE Begins Supervising Listing Policies
The NYSE appoints the Committee on Stock List to take charge of admitting new securities. This begins the Exchange's effort to supervise and control listing policies.


Trans-Atlantic Cable
The first trans-Atlantic cable is completed, providing instantaneous communication between London and New York.


1867 The First Stock Ticker
Invented by Edward A. Calahan, the stock ticker revolutionizes the stock market by bringing current prices to investors everywhere.


1868 Property Rights
Membership in the NYSE becomes a "property right," enabling members to sell their seats.


1869 "Watering Stocks" Prohibited
The New York Stock Exchange and the Open Board, another exchange, crack down on the practice of issuing shares in secret, known as watering stock.


All Shares Must Be Registered
The Exchange requires that all shares of listed companies be registered at a bank or other appropriate agency.


"Watered Stock"
To eliminate "watered stock" (shares issued by a company without authorization), the Exchange requires that all shares of listed companies be registered at a bank or other appropriate agency. Only Erie Railroad refuses to comply. Its shares are delisted from trading for several months until it complies.


NYSE Consolidation Plan Adopted
May 08
NYSE and Open Board of Brokers adopted a plan of consolidation.


Gold Speculation Tanks Market
On September 24, gold speculation resulted in "Black Friday."


1871 Continuous Trading via Specialists Begins
To foster more liquid markets, the Exchange adopts a system of continuous trading, replacing calls of stocks at set times. As part of the new system, brokers dealing in a particular stock remain at one location on the trading floor, giving rise to the specialist.


1872 Specialists are Created
As part of the Exchange's new system of continuous trading to replace calls of stocks at set times, brokers dealing in a particular stock remain at one location on the trading floor, giving rise to the specialist.


1873 NYSE Closes for 10 Days
Jay Cooke & Company, a prestigious Philadelphia banking firm, fails on September 19 due to over speculation in railroad stocks. The NYSE closes for ten days as a severe financial panic grips the nation.


1878 First Telephone on the Floor
The first telephone is installed on the NYSE floor, just two years after Alexander Graham Bell conducts successful tests in Boston.


1881 Paging Begins
The first annunciator board is installed for paging members.


1886 First Million Share Day
The Exchange experiences its first million-share day on December 15.


1887 Change of Trading Hours
Trading hours change to 10 A.M. until 3 P.M. On Saturdays trading is from 10 A.M. to noon.


1889 New York Quotation Company
The New York Quotation Company, a NYSE subsidiary, is organized to provide ticker service to subscribers.


1892 NYSE Establishes Clearing House
The New York Stock Exchange Clearing House is organized to centralize and expedite the transfer of securities from broker to broker.


1895 Annual Reports Suggested
The Exchange recommends that all listed companies send their shareholders annual reports with an income statement and balance sheet.


1896 DJIA Published By Wall Street Journal
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is published by the Wall Street Journal for the first time, with an initial value of 40.74. Among the twelve stocks that comprise


1900 - 1919
1901 High Turnover of Shares
Annual turnover of shares on the NYSE reaches an all-time high of 319 percent.


1903 Move To Current Site
On April 22, the NYSE moves into its new quarters at 18 Broad Street. The new trading floor, still in use today, is 60 percent larger than the previous floor.


1906 DJIA Tops 100
The Dow Jones Industrial Average tops 100 for the first time.


1907 Panic of 1907
Rumors of financial problems at Knickerbocker Trust, a leading NY bank, triggers a run on banks throughout the city. This begins the Panic of 1907, regarded as America's most severe financial crisis to date. J.P. Morgan, Sr., who orchestrates a massive operation to infuse cash into banks and shore up the stock market, stems the panic almost single-handedly.


1911 "Blue Sky" Law
Kansas adopts the "Blue Sky" Law, which requires companies issuing securities to file a description of their operations and receive a permit before selling stocks. It also imposes registration requirements on brokers who sell securities. Within two years, 22 other states pass similar laws. An effort to pass a similar law at the federal level fails.


1913 Federal Reserve System
The Federal Reserve System is established to control credit and bring greater stability to the nation's banking structure.


1914 WW1 Causes Longest Exchange Shutdown
As armed conflict engulfs Europe, securities exchanges around the world suspend operations to arrest plunging prices. The NYSE closes its doors on July 31, and does not fully reopen for 4 1/2 months, the longest shutdown in Exchange history.


1915 Market Price in Dollars
Basis of quoting and trading in stocks changed from percent of par value to market price in dollars.


1918 Pneumatic Tube System
An expanded pneumatic tube system goes into operation.


Wall Street Becomes World Financial Leader
World War I is a turning point. America emerges from the war as a creditor rather than a debtor nation, and Wall Street supplants London as the world investment capital. Over the next decade, more than 1,700 foreign issues will be offered publicly in the U.S.


1920 - 1939
1920 Centralized Clearing System Established
The Stock Clearing Corp. is established by the Exchange to develop a centralized system for delivering and clearing securities among members, banks and trust companies.


1922 New Office Space
The Exchange completes a 23-story office tower with additional trading space. The New Trading Room is referred to as “the Garage”, because it is next to the original structure.


1923 Fraud Bureau Established
The NYSE establishes a Fraud Bureau and works closely with the Better Business Bureau to eliminate gamblers who bet on the rise and fall of the stock market quotations, and other fraudulent security sales.


Start of Historic Bull Market
An historic bull market causes stock prices to surge ahead, virtually without letup, for the next six years.


1926 Listing Rules Tighten
The Exchange tightens its listing rules to encourage companies to give equal voting rights to shareholders.


1927 Proxy Solicitation
The NYSE's regulations governing proxy solicitation are first established, and in subsequent years are strengthened and refined.


1928 Expanded Trading Room
An expanded trading room is opened to handle increased bond volume.


1929 Central Quote System
To meet volume growth, the Exchange builds large new trading posts and establishes a central quote system that provides instantaneous bid-ask prices by phone.


Black Thursday
Stock prices fall sharply on October 24, Black Thursday, with record volume of nearly 13 million shares. Five days later, the market crashes on volume of over 16 million shares -- a level not to be surpassed for 39 years. In popular imagery, the crash has come to mark the beginning of the Great Depression


Black Tuesday
On September 3, the Dow Jones Industrial Average reaches its 1929 peak of 381.17.

On October 29, "Black Tuesday," prices fall sharply and the stock market "crashes." This "crash" produces a record volume of nearly 16 million shares. The Dow Jones Industrial Average falls more than 11 percent.


1930 "Black Box" Ticker
The 500-character per minute black box ticker, nearly twice as fast as previous tickers, is introduced.


1932 Dow Hits Bottom
The Dow finally reaches bottom in July, down 89 percent from its 1929 peak.


1933 The Securities Act of 1933
Franklin Roosevelt is inaugurated as the 32nd President of the United States, promising a "New Deal." The Securities Act of 1933 mandates registering new issues and establishes federal disclosure requirements.


NYSE Closes For Bank Holiday
March 04
The NYSE shut down its operations for FDR's 1933 bank holiday.


1934 SEC
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 establishes the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Its two basic purposes: to provide full disclosure to investors and to prohibit fraud in connection with the sale of securities.


1938 First President
William McChesney Martin, Jr., becomes the first full-time salaried president of the exchange.


1939 Public Gallery Opens
The NYSE opens its trading floor gallery to the public. The gallery is


1940 - 1959
1941 Centralization of Authority
Continuing the reorganization begun in 1938, the NYSE constitution is revised to centralize administrative authority in the office of the president and his staff.


1942 Lowest Price for Membership
A membership sells for $17,000, the lowest price in the twentieth century.


1943 Women Work on Trading Floor
Women work on the Stock Exchange trading floor for the first time ending the tradition of men only.


1945 Exchange Closes for V-J Day
Victorious American troops are welcomed home with a ticker tape parade. The Exchange closes August 15-16 for V-J Day.


1949 Longest Bull Run Begins
The longest bull run market on record begins. Stock prices will rise, without significant interruption, for the next eight years.


1952 Over 6 Million Americans Own Stock
The NYSE, in its first shareowner census, finds that 6,490,000 Americans own common stock.


NYSE Changes Trading Hours
September 29
The NYSE changes its trading hours to 10 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. Monday-Friday, and closes on Saturdays.


1953 Last Daily Volume Under 1 Million
Volume of 900,000 shares on October 10 marks the last daily volume under 1 million shares.


First Member Corp.
The NYSE permits member firms to incorporate, improving their access to permanent capital. Woodcock, Hess & Co. becomes the first member corporation.


1954 "Own Your Share of American Business"
The NYSE launches the "Own Your Share of American Business" educational and marketing program, aimed at expanding public participation in the stock market.


Monthly Investment Plan
The Exchange inaugurates the Monthly Investment Plan (MIP), a program allowing individuals to invest as little as $40 per month in the stock market through special accounts at NYSE member firms.


Dow Surpasses 1929 Peak
The Dow Jones Industrial Average surpasses its 1929 peak for the first time.


1955 Eisenhower Heart Attack
President Dwight D. Eisenhower suffers a heart attack on September 24, creating a large wave of selling at the NYSE. Both the president and the market recover quickly.


1956 Outside Directors Recommend
The NYSE urges listed companies to include at least two outside directors on their boards to help ensure prompt and full disclosure of corporate information.


1957 Ebasco Services Report
Ebasco Services issues its report on the possibility of automating the trading floor. The report contained suggestions for automating transaction reporting, and improved stock clearing and quotation service.


1959 NYSE Adopts New Policy
The Exchange adopts a policy that discourages securities transactions between a listed company and its officers and directors.


1960 - 1979
1961 International Federation of Stock Exchanges
International Federation of Stock Exchanges is organized.


Exceeds 4 Million
Average daily volume on the NYSE exceeds 4 million shares, nearly triple the level immediately following the war.


1963 Kennedy Assassinated
The assassination of President Kennedy on November 22 forces an emergency early closing of the Exchange to avoid panic selling.


1964 The 900 Ticker
The black box ticker is replaced by the 900 ticker with nearly twice the speed.


1966 Securities Investor Protection Corp.
Congress creates the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, to protect customers of brokerage firms that fail.


Radio Paging System
The first test of the radio paging system begins. Within a few years it would replace the annunciator boards.


NYSE Creates Common Stock Index
The NYSE begins a composite index of all listed common stocks. This is referred to as the Common Stock Index and is transmitted daily. The starting point of the index is 50. It is later renamed the NYSE Composite Index®.


Floor Data Fully Automated
Transmission of trade and quote data from the floor is fully automated on December 20.


1967 First Woman Member
Muriel Siebert becomes the first woman member of the Exchange.


1968 Central Certificate Service
The Central Certificate Service (CCS) is established to transfer securities electronically, eliminating their physical handling for settlement purposes. CCS is later succeeded by Depository Trust Company.


Paperwork Crisis
As trading volume surges, member firms struggle to process transactions on time. Member firm back offices work around the clock to keep up. The "paperwork crisis" continues for months, spurring increased automation.


1970 First African-American Member
Joseph L. Searles III becomes the first African-American member of the Exchange.


Public Can Own Member Firms
March 26
Public ownership of member firms is approved for the first time.


1971 NYSE Not-for-Profit
The NYSE is incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation.


First Member Organization Listed
On July 27, the NYSE lists its first member organization, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (NYSE Listed-MER).


1972 Securities Industry Automation Corp. Established
The Securities Industry Automation Corporation (SIAC) is organized. The subsidiary company, jointly owned by the NYSE and the American Stock Exchange, provides automation and data processing services.


NYSE Board of Directors
The NYSE transfers policy-making power to a new 21-member board of directors, including 10 public directors.


DJIA Closes Over 1,000
Dow Jones Industrial Average closes over 1,000 for the first time.


Board of Directors
In an important organizational change to strengthen the role of the public, investors and listed companies in NYSE governance, the 33-member Board of Governors is replaced by a 21-member Board of Directors with 10 public members. Concurrently, James J. Needham becomes the first full-time salaried chairman of the Exchange.


1973 White Paper on Corporate Disclosure
The NYSE white paper on corporate disclosure recommends a minimum of three outside directors and an audit committee composed solely of public directors.


Depository Trust Company
Depository Trust Company is established to provide a central depository for securities certificates and electronically record transfers of stock ownership.


1974 Trading Hours Extended
Trading hours are extended from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.


1975 Fixed Commissions Abolished
On May 1, the Securities and Exchange Commission bans fixed minimum commission rates, a cornerstone of the US. securities markets and all other organized exchanges throughout the world.


Full Consolidated Tape Introduced
June 16
NYSE introduces its full consolidated tape.


1976 NYSE Launches Designated Order Turnaround
The fully automated Designated Order Turnaround (DOT) system® is introduced to electronically route smaller orders.


First Non-US Member Joins NYSE
Bruno Des Forges becomes the first non-US member of the Exchange.


Odd Lot Trades Enabled
May 24
Specialists begin handling odd lots in their stocks. Odd lots are stock transactions that involve less than 100 shares.


1977 New Listed Company Requirements
The NYSE requires listed companies to form independent audit committees composed of outside directors.


Foreign Brokers/ Dealers Welcomed
February 03
The NYSE begins permitting foreign broker/dealers to obtain membership on the floor.


1978 ITS
The Intermarket Trading System (ITS) is inaugurated. ITS provides an electronic link between the NYSE and competing exchanges, enabling brokers to access all markets nation- wide to find the best purchase or sale price for a security.


1979 Major Upgrade
The Exchange begins a major upgrading and modernization of its trading floor to increase the use of technology.


New York Futures Exchange
Expanding into futures trading, the NYSE forms the New York Futures Exchange (NYFE).


1980 - 1999
1982 First 100 Million Share Day
The NYSE experiences its first 100 million share day.


1984 Committee on Voting Rights Appointed
The Exchange appoints a committee to review voting rights issues.


Super Dot 250 Launches
The Exchange launches SuperDot 250, an electronic order-routing system that links member firms to specialist posts on the trading floor.


1985 Trading Hours Change
Trading hours change to 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. where they remain today.


Ronald Reagan Visits NYSE
March 28
The United States' 40th President, Ronald Reagan, becomes the first U.S. President to visit the NYSE while in office.

View additional images:
Reagan on the Bell Podium
Reagan in the Boardroom
Reagan on the Trading Floor

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To view a video montage of President Reagan’s visits, use the links below:
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1986 New Voting Rights Policy Adopted
Common stocks with unequal classes of voting rights can list on the NYSE only if approved by two-thirds of all shares and a majority of independent directors.


1987 Largest One-Day Percentage Drop
On October 19, the Dow Jones Industrial Average experiences its largest one-day percentage drop in history, 508 points or 22.61 percent. This drop causes volume to surge to an unprecedented 604 million shares. The next day, volume reaches 608 million shares.

View additional images:
NYSE Trading Floor Crowds
NYSE Trading Post
Crowds on Wall Street
After The Fall



1988 Circuit Breakers
The SEC approves a series of actions by the NYSE and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange to coordinate procedures between the equities and futures markets, including coordinated circuit breakers to control extreme price movements and the sharing of market surveillance data.


Protection of Shareholders Rights
The SEC prohibits disenfranchisement of existing common stockholders.


1990 Industry Wide Test
An industry wide test demonstrates the ability to handle volume in excess of 800 million shares a day.


51 Million Americans Own Stock
More than 51 million Americans own stocks, according to the latest NYSE census.


1991 Corporate Governance Symposium
The NYSE holds a symposium to gather perspective and data on improving aspects of corporate governance, such as director independence.


Off-hours Trading
The NYSE begins its first off-hours trading sessions. Session I from 4:15 - 5 P.M. Session II from 4 - 5:15 P.M.


Dow Exceeds 3,000
On January 1, 1991, the Dow Jones Industrial Average exceeds 3,000 for the first time.




1992 Average Daily Volume Surpasses 200 Million
The average daily volume surpasses 200 million shares.


Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev Tour the Trading Floor
May 13
Former President Ronald Reagan and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev tour the trading floor during a visit to the NYSE to commemorate the NYSE's bicentennial.

View additional images: Reagan with Gorbachev and former NYSE Chairman and CEO, William H. Donaldson
NYSE floor community greets Reagan and Gorbachev


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To view a video montage of President Reagan’s visits, use the links below:
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NYSE Bicentennial
On May 17, the NYSE celebrates its 200th anniversary as one of the world's most vital and enduring financial institutions.


1993 Integrated Technology Plan
The Integrated Technology Plan is begun to upgrade trading floor networks, hardware and software, in order to enhance the quality, capacity, efficiency and productivity of virtually every aspect of trading floor operations.

Systems capacity to handle over 1 billion shares a day is implemented.


1st German Listed Company
Daimler-Benz AG becomes the first German listed company.


1994 "Market 2000"
The SEC issues its "Market 2000" study of the U.S. securities markets.

The SEC approves a uniform shareholder voting rights policy adopted by the NYSE, the American Stock Exchange and the National Associations of Securities Dealers.


1995 Video: Trading Posts Upgrade
The NYSE launched an aggressive plan to re-engineer the NYSE trading floor to make use of the most sophisticated technology of the time. Handheld terminals, fiber optics, cellular communications and the first large-scale application of high-definition flat-screen technology were installed to speed market information and strengthen trading floor professionals' ability to manage orders. The two-minute timelapse film below follows the progress of technicians installing the technology at a trading post over the course of a single weekend, ensuring that the market opened smoothly for trading on Monday morning.
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Three-day Settlement Period
The three-day settlement period for listed equities is introduced.


1996 Real-time Ticker
NYSE launches real-time stock tickers on CNBC and CNN-FN. Previously, market data had been delayed 20 minutes.


First Russian Listed Company
VimpelCom, the largest provider of cellular telecommunications in Russia, becomes the NYSE's first Russian listed company.


290 Non-US Companies Listed
A new volume record is set on July 16, trading 681 million shares.

A record 59 non-U.S. companies joined the NYSE list in 1996, bringing the total to a record 290.


1997 Wireless Data System
The Wireless Data System is inaugurated, allowing brokers to receive orders, access market information and transmit execution reports from any location on the trading floor.


Trading in Sixteenths
June 24
NYSE begins trading stocks in increments of "sixteenths," an interim step toward quoting stock prices in decimals.


Dow Plummets
On October 27, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummets 554 points, triggering the NYSE's "circuit breaker" rule for the first time. Trading halts at 3:30 p.m.


Volume Tops 1 Billion
On October 28, volume tops 1 billion shares for the first time. More than 1.2 billion shares are traded as the Dow Jones Industrial Average soars 337.17 points, rebounding from the previous day's loss.


1998 New "circuit breaker" rules
April 15
New "circuit breaker" rules went into effect to halt trading when the Dow Jones Industrial Average drops 10, 20 and 30 percent.


Preliminary agreement to build trading facility
December 22
The NYSE reached preliminary agreement to build a trading facility on the block across from the current Exchange building.


1999 Independent Director Requirement
The NYSE requires domestic listed companies to seat at least three independent directors on audit committees and set rules for their independence and financial expertise.


3D Trading Floor
NYSE unveils 3D Trading Floor, an advanced Trading Floor operations center.


DJIA tops 10,000
On March 19, the Dow Jones Industrial Averages tops 10,000 for


2000 - Today
2000 First Global Index Launches
On February 7, the S&P Global 100 Index launches as the first equity stock index covering global companies. This index is a collaboration of the NYSE, Standard & Poor's, the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Deutsche Borse.


Dow's Biggest Point Jump
March 16
The DJIA experiences its largest one-day point gain - 499.19 points - to close at 10,630.60.


Decimal Pricing Begins
On August 28, the NYSE begins trading stocks in decimal price increments in a seven-stock pilot program. The first decimal-priced trade takes place at 9:30:09 a.m. in FedEx Corporation stock.


New Trading Room
October 20
A new trading facility opens at 30 Broad Street. The new trading room features re-designed trading posts and the latest in market-data display technology. The trading room closed in February 2007.


NYSE Direct+®
October 21
The Exchange launches NYSE Direct+®, an automatic execution service, in a pilot program. NYSE Direct+ provides immediate automatic execution of limit orders up to 1,099 shares at the published NYSE quote.


First NYSE Exchange - Traded Fund
The NYSE introduces the first equity product that tracks the S&P Global 100 Index -- the iShares S&P Global 100 Exchange Traded Fund (NYSE-listed IOO).


2001 Volume tops 2 billion
January 04
Volume of trading on the NYSE exceeded 2 billion shares for the first time on this day, when 2.129 billion shares changed hands. This record-volume day followed the previous day's 1/2-percentage-point interest rate cut by the Fed Reserve, which lowered the fed funds rate to 6 percent.


Trading in Fractions Ends
January 29
Decimal pricing of all NYSE stocks is fully implemented, ending the practice of trading in eighths and sixteenths of a dollar, used for more than two centuries.


Unlisted Trading Privileges
July 01
NYSE begins trading three non-NYSE-listed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on the basis of unlisted trading privileges, known as “UTP,” which are rights granted to securities exchanges under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to trade securities listed on any other national exchange.


Terrorist Attacks on WTC
On September 11, terrorist attacks destroy the World Trade Center. The NYSE closes for four days -- its longest closure since 1933 -- and reopens on Sept. 17, setting a record volume of 2.37 billion shares.


Dow's Biggest Point Slide
September 17
The DJIA plummets 684.81 points, closing at 8,920.70 - its steepest point decline in a single day.


2002 NYSE OpenBook®
January 24
NYSE OpenBook® launches, a new market information product that provides off-floor market participants a view of the buy and sell interest in all NYSE-listed securities beyond the best bid and offer.


Sarbanes Oxley Act
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act , which aims to protect investors by improving the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosures, goes into effect.


2003 NYSE Composite Index® Relaunched
NYSE Composite Index® is relaunched using revised methodology and a new base value of 5,000. The revised index provides investors with a better tool to measure NYSE market performance.


NYSE LiquidityQuote
NYSE LiquidityQuote launches in a 28-stock pilot, disseminating executable, sizable quotes outside of the best bid or offer. Investors and market professionals can use this product to find greater market size and depth.


Rule 500 Eliminated
October 30
NYSE eliminates Rule 500, allowing a listed company’s board of directors to make the determination on the voluntary delisting of its securities.


New Listed Company Governance Standard
On November 4, the SEC approves the NYSE’s new corporate governance standards for listed companies, requiring boards of NYSE-listed companies to have a majority of independent directors, and requiring that nomination, compensation and audit committee consist solely of independent directors.


NYSE Concludes Governance Changes
The NYSE concludes a far-reaching reorganization of its corporate governance, ensuring greater transparency and independence of NYSE board members. The Exchange’s new governance features a fully independent Board of Directors; a Board of Executives composed of constituent representatives to advise on NYSE marketplace issues; an autonomous Chief Regulatory Officer; and separation of the CEO and Chairman roles.


2004 NYSE Files to Expand Automatic Trading
August 02
On August 2, the NYSE files to expand the NYSE Direct+® system. If approved by regulators, limits will be eliminated on the size, timing, and types of orders that can be submitted via Direct+, significantly increasing the level of purely electronic trading at the NYSE.


2005 Highest price paid for membership
December 01
Highest price paid for NYSE membership -- $4,000,000.


NYSE Hybrid MarketSM
December 15
NYSE Hybrid Market is launched, creating a unique blend of auction and electronic trading. NYSE Hybrid Market provides customers with more choices and greater flexibility in accessing the superior liquidity and best prices of the NYSE marketplace.


Seat Sales End
December 30
In anticipation of the NYSE’s transformation into a publicly held company, member seat sales officially end and are replaced by the sale of annual trading licenses.


2006 NYSE and ArcaEx Merge
On March 7, the NYSE Group, Inc., a for-profit, publicly-owned company, is formed out of the merger of the New York Stock Exchange and Archipelago Holdings, Inc. The merger is the largest-ever among securities exchanges up to this time.
NYSE Group, Inc. Corporate Family Tree (pdf)



Trading in NYX Stock Begins
March 8
Shares of the newly formed NYSE Group begin trading under Ticker Symbol NYX.


NYSE Group Acquires MatchPoint Trading, Inc.
July 17
NYSE Group acquires a new crossing system, MatchPoint Trading, Inc., a financial services technology company specializing in call market trading and technologies.


NYSE Group Buys Ownership Stake in Marco Polo Network
September 18
This acquisition provides an electronic platform for global investors to trade equities and derivatives listed on emerging market exchanges.


New Options Trading Platform
October 10
NYSE Arca Options fully launches, offering automatic executions for customer and broker dealer options orders.


NYSE Group Completes Acquisition of SIAC from Amex
November 01
SIAC (Securities Industry Automation Corporation) is wholly acquired by NYSE Group, Inc.


New Bond Trading Platform
November 10
NYSE Group launches its next generation bond trading platform, NYSE BondsSM and begins trading the unlisted debt securities of NYSE-listed companies.


2007 President George W. Bush Tours the NYSE
January 31
President Bush becomes the second sitting President to visit the Exchange during the trading day.


Record Volume Day
February 27
The NYSE handles its largest single volume day - 4,121,107,134 shares.


NYSE and Euronext Merge
On April 4, NYSE Euronext is formed out of the merger of NYSE Group, Inc. and Euronext N.V. The merger marks a milestone for global financial markets, bringing together major marketplaces across Europe and the United States whose histories stretch back more than four centuries.


Source:
http://www.nyse.com/about/history/timeline_chronology_index.html