From: ThatWouldBeTelling@thevillage.com   
      
   Anton Ertl wrote:   
   > EricP  writes:   
   >> I don't know about the 800 but stock and bond prices used to be   
   >> published with fractions like 17 1/8.   
   >   
   > 17 1/8% = 137/8% = 137/800   
   >   
   >> I can't remember when they   
   >> switched to publishing in decimal.   
   >   
   > But all those that I have seen published in decimal are also multiples   
   > of 1/8%, i.e, of 1/800.   
   >   
   > - anton   
      
   Ah... it was due to Spanish traders and gold doubloons about 400 years ago.   
      
   Why the NYSE Once Reported Prices in Fractions   
   https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/why-nyse-switch-fractions-to-decimals/   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)