History Hyenas with Chris Distefano and Yannis Pappas From Belgium to Wall Street: The Dirty Birth of the Stock Market
May 8, 2025
Yannis and Chris take a comical journey from the origins of the stock market back to ancient Greece, where toga-clad investors kicked off a financial revolution. They explore the rise of Hetty Green, the 'Wall Street witch,' and the shocks of the Great Depression. With playful banter, they tackle complex finance terms, the evolution of markets, and even a Japanese soldier's quirky 15-year post-war saga. Expect laughs as they demystify investing basics and share outrageous anecdotes.
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Stock Market Origins
- The stock market began in Antwerp, Belgium in the 1500s as a place to trade commodities, debts, and bills of exchange.
- It evolved from early Greek investments in ship expeditions to today's complex system.
Decode Stock Market Jargon
- Learn to understand stock market jargon like "commodity" and "equity" to navigate investing.
- Simplify complex financial terms to make investing approachable and avoid confusion.
Buttonwood Agreement Significance
- The Buttonwood Agreement in 1792 centralized securities trading and created the New York Stock Exchange.
- Six of the twenty-four original signers were Sephardic Jews, highlighting their early financial influence.