The ‘Big Board’ where trillion dollar deals are sealed

Every first time visitor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) will no doubt see reasons why it prides itself to be the leading global exchange for today’s companies.  For more than 220 years, the world’s best businesses, leaders and problem-solvers walk through their doors to raise the capital required for innovation and progress in communities across the globe.

Business leaders go there because they know what it offers. Most business travelers can attest that New York subway system can be a bit intimidating at first because the locals do rush around so you might feel the pressure of someone right behind you in line getting ever more impatient.

Located at 11 Wall Street, Lower Manhattan, New York City, the New York Stock Exchange, sometimes known as the “Big Board” is by far the world’s largest stock exchange by market capitalisation of its listed companies at $19.69 trillion as of May 2015. The average daily trading value was approximately $169 billion in 2013.

The Exchange’s unparalleled network has included the boldest leaders across all verticals – from financial, technology, Consumer Goods/Services, healthcare and energy/utilities to industrials.

The word closest to members’ ears is “DEAL”, no matter how companies decide to structure it, as far as it is a win-win situation acceptable by the regulators. For first timers at the NYSE, security –processes and personnel attraction are world class.

Media interaction with dealing members on the trading floor is unbeatable. Access to information and live streams of transactions are best ways to express the NYSE level of transparency. In fact, the world businesses cannot afford to exit without the Exchange.

Whether it is outside its historic New York headquarters, which is one of the most photographed buildings in the world today, on the trading floor where 30 media outlets broadcast, or through its Twitter account with over 1.3 million followers, the NYSE help has helped its market participants and operators connect to a worldwide audience.

It has not failed to work with its listed companies to strategically combine its owned, earned and paid marketing resources to attract institutional investors and future customers.

A flier I read in the Big Board impressed me. It says: “Whether it is bringing the latest technology to our trading floor, renovating our event facilities to host today’s leading companies, or building new platforms for investor relations teams from the ground up, we’re always looking to serve our listed companies where and when they need us.”

“We believe in a fair, transparent marketplace that emphasises capital formation and investor protection. To ensure those end goals, we work to encourage positive change in market structure to reduce complexity in the U.S. equity markets, strengthen confidence in markets, and encourage market participation. We are committed to market education through periodic summary and position papers on specific topics impacting investors, issuers and equity market intermediaries, such as proxy governance, corporate and investor disclosure and equity market structure”, it further stated.

No wonder that the NYSE listed 19 out of the 20 largest IPOs by market cap over the last three years, and 8 of the 10 top tech IPOs in 2015.

By combining designated Market Maker oversight with leading technology, there is also significant opportunity to get the best price when buybacks and secondaries are conducted.

For centuries, the Big Board brought together some of the world’s greatest businesses and innovative minds to exchange ideas and opportunity. Its network of listed companies includes 87 percent of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), 77 percent of the S&P 500 and 80 percent of Fortune 100 companies.

The proprietary NYSE Connect platform provides comprehensive insight into companies stock on demand, including access to real-time buy-side decisions, a comparative look at companies peers, and investment fund targeting information. NYSE Connect is complemented by best-in-class partnerships with Ipreo and Investis, the NYSE MAC Desk and regular networking events for investor relations teams.

The NYSE trading floor is composed of 21 rooms used for the facilitation of trading. A fifth trading room, located at 30 Broad Street, was closed in February 2007. The main building and the 11 Wall Street building were designated National Historic Landmarks in 1978.

Iheanyi Nwachukwu