What Is Wall Street?

Wall Street is a street in lower Manhattan, New York City, that was originally named for the wall that was built by the Dutch in the 17th century to protect their settlement from English invasion.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Wall Street became the financial center of the United States, with banks and stockbrokers establishing their headquarters there.

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) was established on Wall Street in 1817 and became the most important stock exchange in the world.

Wall Street is home to many of the world's largest investment banks, including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Morgan Stanley.

Many hedge funds are also headquartered on Wall Street, including Paulson & Co. and Bridgewater Associates. Wall Street played a central role in the 2008 financial crisis, which led to a global recession.

In response to the financial crisis, the U.S. government passed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in 2010 to regulate the financial industry.

Wall Street is the center of the world's largest securities trading market, with billions of dollars in stocks, bonds, and other securities traded every day.

Wall Street is home to many financial services firms, including insurance companies, asset management firms, and private equity firms.

Wall Street is known for its iconic buildings, including the New York Stock Exchange building, the Woolworth Building, and the One World Trade Center.