Birth of the New York Stock Exchange

"May 17, 1792. A group of 24 stock brokers create what would become the New York Stock Exchange. They signed the Buttonwood Agreement under a buttonwood (American Sycamore) tree outside 68 Wall Street, New York (see picture). Under the two terms of the deal, the brokers agree to trade only with each other and for a commission of 0.25 percent. The first offices were a room rented for $200 per month at 40 Wall Street and the first listed company was the Bank of New York. Today, the NYSE is the world’s largest stock exchange thanks to a market capitalisation worth more than 13 trillion dollars."