Minister of Finance Nir Barkat received a special honor tonight at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) when he closed the trading session by ringing the iconic bell of the stock exchange, marking the end of trading on the world's largest stock exchange.
In honor of the festive ceremony with Minister Barkat, the entire American Stock Exchange was painted in the colors of the Israeli flag, blue and white. The attendees cheered for the Israeli Minister of Finance as he rang the bell and declared the end of trading. Standing alongside Minister Barkat was Lynn Martin, the President of the New York Stock Exchange.
Minister of Finance, Nir Barkat, stated: "I am proud to represent the State of Israel at the important and largest stock exchange in the world and to close the trading day. As I mentioned in my meeting with stock exchange leaders, Israel is a strategic hub for investors, given our unique advantage in the technological field, which holds the future of the world's economy. As a former investor, I say to all investors in America – investing in Israel is the best investment you can make. Those who invest in Israel will reap enormous benefits."
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is the largest stock exchange in the United States and the world in terms of total market capitalization. It is the second-largest stock exchange in terms of the number of listed companies, after the NASDAQ. Today, the use of the street name "Wall Street" has become synonymous with the exchange itself.
As of 2022, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) has around 2,400 listed companies with a total market capitalization of approximately $30 trillion. Of the top 30 largest publicly traded companies in the United States, which make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), 28 are traded on the NYSE. Approximately half of the trading volume is conducted electronically. The current CEO of the exchange is Duncan L. Niederauer. Nearly 100 Israeli companies are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.