Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) (^DJI)

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, often simply called 'the Dow,' is one of the oldest and most widely followed stock market indices in the world. It tracks 30 large, publicly owned companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. Created in 1896 by Charles Dow, the index includes major firms across sectors such as technology, finance, healthcare, and consumer goods. The DJIA is price-weighted, meaning higher-priced stocks have greater influence on the index’s movements. It serves as a barometer of U.S. economic health and investor sentiment.