“When Wall Street sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold,” says an old adage, referring to the incredible influence wielded by this center of world finance. The name of the street comes from a fortified wall the Dutch built around 1650 to protect New York (then New Amsterdam) from attacks by Native Americans. In the 19th century, as New York became the world’s largest port, shipping firms and banks set their headquarters on this downtown street. Wall Street is now home to the New York Stock Exchange and many of the world’s most important financial institutions.