On Tuesday, July 16th I was granted the opportunity to visit the New York Stock Exchange through Rosenblatt’s internship program. Joe Gawronski, CEO of Rosenblatt Securities, guided all the investment banking and equity research interns. Before entering, I knew that the NYSE’s atmosphere had changed since its glory days, but little did I know how much. Although I wasn’t expecting to see a boisterous environment with traders using hand signals and yelling across the floor, I thought there would be a little energy left throughout the building. Nowadays, however, the New York Stock Exchange acts more like a museum and a host for events than the go-to place for trading.
This shift in perspective allowed me to appreciate and visualize the NYSE’s past. Throughout the tour, Joe provided anecdotes and showcased many extravagant conference rooms, the 1792 restaurant, and some of his personal favorite mementos. As we walked through the marble-centric interior we passed walls that hung portraits of famous investors who seemingly possessed Midas’s touch. Finally, we arrived at our main destination, the trading floor.
The floor itself was unparalleled to anything I had ever seen before. A massive room containing a plethora of trading booths, hundreds of screens projecting dynamic market data, and a news broadcast occurring in the background. I couldn’t even fathom the floor’s environment in its prime. Even with my initial suspicions being correct and seeing a sparsely filled trading floor it created a rush of adrenaline. My favorite part was seeing everyone gather around and cheering for the iconic bell at market close.
Although the New York Stock Exchange has changed, I believe it’s still a great place to visit for anyone interested in trading, investing, finance, and its historical significance. It’s a true rite of passage and a way to welcome yourself to the world of investing.
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