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On 29 January 2001, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) achieved a significant milestone by completing its transition from fractional stock pricing to decimal pricing, marking an important advancement in the modernization of American financial markets. Before this change, stock prices were traditionally quoted in fractions of a dollar, commonly in increments of one-sixteenth, equivalent to 6.25 cents. The introduction of decimal pricing allowed stock prices to be expressed in dollars and cents, enabling price movements in increments as small as one cent. This historic transition simplified stock quotations, improved pricing transparency, and made trading information easier for individual and institutional investors to understand. The initiative was part of a broader effort supported by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to modernize securities markets, improve trading efficiency, and promote greater competition among market participants. The full implementation of decimal pricing on 29 January 2001 represented a transformative milestone in NYSE history, fundamentally changing how stock prices were quoted and how investors participated in securities trading. By reducing the minimum price increment from 6.25 cents to one cent, decimalization encouraged narrower bid-ask spreads, increased price competition, and helped reduce transaction costs for many investors. The NYSE introduced decimal trading gradually, beginning with a pilot program in August 2000 before completing the transition across all listed stocks in January 2001. The reform also supported the development of sophisticated electronic trading systems and more precise order execution. A 2005 U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) study confirmed that decimal pricing had contributed to lower trading costs, particularly through narrower quoted spreads. This milestone strengthened the NYSE's efficiency, accessibility, and competitiveness, establishing decimal pricing as a fundamental feature of modern American securities markets.