This Week In History November 18th - 24th

Welcome to the first issue of Ticker History, where every week you’ll learn about the biggest news in stocks, markets, and investing that wasn’t covered in your AP U.S. History Class.   

Historic mergers, IPOs, tech debuts (and failures), and major cultural events that affected the market? They’re all here. 

History doesn’t repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme. 

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Let’s take a look at some of the biggest news in markets, stocks, and business from this week in history. 

November 19th, 1996: Clippy Is Born 📅

Remember this little guy?

Clippy was a virtual assistant that first appeared in Microsoft Office 97, debuting on November 19th, 1996. The cartoon paperclip, originally called Clippit, was an artificial intelligence bot that helped with formatting, answered questions, and guided new users.

At least it tried to do so- Clippy was widely mocked as annoying and unhelpful, and was turned off by default with the release of Office XP in 2001. He has since become a meme, fondly remembered as a part of the early internet.

Ironically enough, Microsoft launched Copilot, an AI productivity suite, to rave reviews in 2023, this time without anthropomorphic office supplies as the mascot. 

November 18th, 2010: General Motors Re-IPOs 📅

General Motors, founded in 1908, is best known for its iconic car brands like Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Buick. However, the company struggled in the 00’s, posting losses of $38.7 billion and a 45% drop in sales in 2007. 

GM was hit hard by the 2008 financial crisis, filing for one of the largest bankruptcies in U.S. history in 2009. It received a $50 billion dollar government bailout, was delisted from the NYSE, and traded on OTC markets under the ticker $GMGMQ.

After focusing on restructuring and cost-cutting, the new General Motors IPOed at $33 per share on November 18th, 2010. Within five years, the company paid back its debt to the government, making $4.7 billion dollars in profit in 2011.

America loves a comeback story.

For stock certificates from General Motors and other auto companies, check out the Ticker History Automotive Shop.

November 19th, 1996: Deutsche Telekom IPOs 📅

In the late 90’s, the German government wanted to sell off a majority portion of its stake in Deutsche Telekom. The sale was part of a larger trend across the continent of privatizing former state-owned enterprises to create more competitive, market-driven business environments. 

On November 19th, 1996, working with Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Telekom IPOed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange at $18.89 per share, earning the German government over $13 billion in what was the largest IPO at the time. The IPO was oversubscribed, and shares traded significantly above the issue price on the first day. 

As a publicly traded company, Deutsche Telekom was able to expand and modernize their infrastructure, becoming a multinational corporation. This was a big deal for Goldman Sachs as well, as German national banks were a significant barrier to entry for outside investors. 

The company has continued to grow since its historic debut, with a market cap of over $146 billion in 2024.

November 18th, 1883: “The Day Of The Two Noons” 📅

In the 19th century, railroads in the U.S. ran on individual schedules set by the companies who operated them. This led to confusion, accidents, and deaths, with multiple lines running across the same sets of tracks. The need for standardized time became urgent as the number of train routes grew. 

On November 18, 1883, the major U.S. railroads agreed on a system with five time zones designed by William F. Allen, editor of the Traveler’s Official Railway Guide. In what was called “The Day of Two Noons", clocks were reset simultaneously across the country.

Standardized time allowed for faster, safer cross-country trade and made communication easier. The trend would continue in the 60’s, when the U.S. and U.K. adopted "Coordinated Universal Time" (UTC) to allow for easier international trade.

For historic stock certificates from railroads and airlines, check out the Ticker History Transportation Shop.

Biggest Companies by Market Cap: Fall 1999 📅

At the height of the dot com boom, investors saw technology stocks displace consumer staples that dominated the charts for decades. Microsoft overtook the #1 spot with its exponential growth, and relative newcomer Intel securing its place.

Source: Yahoo Finance, FinancialModelingPrep

Market Quotes 📅

"If something's important enough, you should try. Even if the probable outcome is failure."

-Elon Musk talking about SpaceX making advances in exploration

"You need to be willing to be misunderstood for long periods of time if you’re going to innovate."

-Jeff Bezos responding to question from shareholders

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. " 

-Richard Branson in his 2014 book “The Virgin Way”

Market Birthdays This Week 📅