 "History Today: When Nasdaq, world's first electronic stock exchange, opened in 1971")
Across history, February 8 has witnessed some big moments.
On this day in 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots, was beheaded.
In 1960, the Hollywood Walk of Fame was established.
The National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (Nasdaq) opened in 1971.
As part of Firstpost’s ongoing series, ‘History Today’ , we delve into defining moments of this day and their impact on the world.
Nasdaq opens
On 8 February, 1971, the Nasdaq opened for trading.
Though the New York Stock Exchange had been formed all the way back in 1792, Nasdaq was something different – the world’s first electronic stock exchange.
Initially, trading began for over 2,500 securities in 500.
Nearly two billion shares would be traded.
At the end of 1971, the index average was just a bit over 100.
As Gordon Macklin, president of the National Association of Securities Dealers from 1970 to 1987, told Trade Magazine, “It was an absolute miracle to be able to push a button and pull up on the screen everyone from all over the country, and all of their current bids and offers.
“It was state of the art, at the time. Just a huge leap forward. Coming from over the counter to over the computer, even in its most primitive stages, was a thrilling lifetime experience.”
But bigger and better things lay ahead.
In 1998, the Nasdaq became the first US stock exchange to offer online trading.
Today, the Nasdaq lists over 3,000 companies.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIt remains the second-largest stock exchange in the world in terms of market capitalisation.
Hollywood Walk of Fame gets first stars
Today, the Hollywood Walk of Fame – located on Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street – is known all over the world.
People from across the planet come to Los Angeles to see the stars – and their stars.
But over six decades ago, the Hollywood Walk of Fame was just an idea in the mind of EM Stuart – who in 1953 served as the volunteer president of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
Stuart said he wanted to “maintain the glory of a community whose name means glamour and excitement in the four corners of the world.”
On February 8, 1960, construction on the Walk of Fame finally commenced.
A month and a half later, on March 28, 1960, film producer and director Stanley Kramer was given the first permanent star at the intersection of Hollywood and Gower.
Olive Borden, Ronald Colman, Louise Fazenda, Preston Foster, Burt Lancaster, Edward Sedgwick, Ernest Torrence, and Joanne Woodward would all be given stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame that first year.
In 2024, actor Mark Ruffalo became the latest celebrity to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – star number 2772.
Mary, Queen of Scots, beheaded
In 1568, Mary, Queen of Scots, was forced to flee to England.
This after she was taken prisoner and made to abdicate in favour of her son King James of Scotland.
Though Elizabeth I initially gave Mary a warm welcome, it would not last.
Mary, after all, had a claim to the English throne thanks to her Tudor blood.
Since Elizabeth was childless, Mary would be the heir presumptive in case of her death.
With English Catholic and Spanish plots swirling around Elizabeth, the Protestant Queen, had little choice but to place Mary under house arrest.
Then, in 1586, nearly two decades into Mary’s imprisonment, another plot against Elizabeth was uncovered.
This time, Elizabeth did not hesitate.
After a brief trial, Mary, Queen of Scots, was sentenced to die.
On February 8, 1587, Mary was beheaded in the great hall at Fotheringhay Castle.
She was only 44 years old.
However, it would arguably be Mary who got the last laugh over Elizabeth.
After the death of the ‘Virgin Queen’ in 1603, James VI of Scotland would take the English throne.
Thus the Tudor line ended with Elizabeth – in favour of the House of Stuart.
This day, that year
1931: US actor James Dean, who would become a symbol for America in the 1950s, is born
1957: John von Neumann, Hungarian-American mathematician who created the modern computer, game theory and nuclear deterrence dies
1960: Queen Elizabeth II issues a proclamation that her family will now be called the House of Windsor
1963: Mohammad Azharuddin, former Indian cricketer and captain of cricket team, is born
1994: Kapil Dev sets new world record of 432 wickets in test cricket
2014: First McDonalds restaurant, symbol of US capitalism, opens in Vietnam
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