The first stock exchange in Paris dates to the 17th century. A new building was commissioned by Napoleon in order to centralise trading. Designed by the architect Brongniart, it opened in 1826. Investment in stocks would increase throughout the 19th century, first with the negotiation of interest at 5%, and above all with the development of industrial securities, particularly railroads, which were the focus of the first major stock bubble.
The district of the Stock Exchange was essentially frequented by businessmen (women were not admitted on the Stock Exchange until 1967), identifiable by their subdued but costly clothes.