"The oldest and largest stock exchange in the U.S., located on Wall Street in New York City. The Big Board is responsible for setting policy, supervising member activities, listing securities, overseeing the transfer of member seats, and evaluating applicants. It traces its origins back to 1792, when a group of brokers met under a tree at the tip of Manhattan and signed an agreement to trade securities. Unlike some of the newer exchanges, the Big Board still uses a large trading floor in order to conduct its transactions. It is here that the representatives of purchasers and sellers, professionals known as brokers, meet and shout out prices at one another in order to strike a deal. ",,