(FLASH FRIDAY is a weekly content series looking at the past, present and future of capital markets trading and technology. FLASH FRIDAY is sponsored by Instinet, a Nomura company.)
On the eve of the Security Traders Association of New York’s 2026 conference, we thought we’d look back at a past iteration. The furthest-back STANY event photos we could easily find was 2009, so we’ll go back in time 17 years, or the age of a legal driver in many states.
STANY’s 73rd-annual conference and dinner was held on Thursday, April 23, 2009, at Cipriani Wall Street, just a stone’s throw from the New York Stock Exchange, where the event is now held.
Battered from a 10-month bear market triggered by the global financial crisis, The Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at 7,900 in April 2009, compared with nearly 48,000 today. Barack Obama was just a few months into his first term as US President. In pop culture, Lady Gaga was big on the airwaves, Parks & Recreation was popular on TV, and Susan Boyle wowed ’em on Britain’s Got Talent.
In our industry, key trends in market structure included volatility, regulatory reform, and liquidity shifting towards electronic trading venues. AI was mostly the stuff of sci-fi movies, and digital assets, 24/7 trading and prediction markets weren’t on anyone’s radar.
The 2009 STANY conference was light on thematic content, at least compared with the current-day event. As per a copy of the agenda provided by Stany, the only two panel sessions were the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada’s “Tips for Traders”, and a debate about short sales.
But there were networking events: a pre-STANY reception on April 22 and a cocktail reception and buffet dinner on the night of the event. Traders Magazine was apparently present taking photos, and more photos. A sampling:
One thing’s for sure: there were more ties worn in 2009 than there will be in 2026.
