The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), Dow Jones, or simply the Dow (), is a stock market index of 30 prominent companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States. The DJIA is one of the oldest and most commonly followed equity indices. It is price-weighted, unlike other common indices such as the Nasdaq Composite or S&P 500, which use market capitalization. The primary pitfall of this approach is that a stock's price—not the size of the company—determines its relative importance in the index. For example, as of March 2025, Goldman Sachs represented the largest component of the index with a market capitalization of ~$167B.
Black Thursday: Dow Jones Industrial Average drops 12.8%, starting the stock market crash of 1929
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), Dow Jones, or simply the Dow (), is a stock market index of 30 prominent companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States.
Historical Significance
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), Dow Jones, or simply the Dow (), is a stock market index of 30 prominent companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States.
Events Before
Algemeene Vereeniging Radio Omroep (AVRO) begins broadcasting in the Netherlands
Algemeene Vereeniging Radio Omroep (AVRO) begins broadcasting in the Netherlands
Paleoanthropologist Davidson Black reports his findings on the ancient human fossils found at Zhoukoudian, China, in the
Paleoanthropologist Davidson Black reports his findings on the ancient human fossils found at Zhoukoudian, China, in the journal Nature and declares them to be a new species he names 'Sinanthropus pekinensis' (now known as 'Homo erectus')
American actress Mary Astor (21) weds American film director Kenneth Hawks (30) at her family home "Moorcrest" in the Ho
American actress Mary Astor (21) weds American film director Kenneth Hawks (30) at her family home "Moorcrest" in the Hollywood Hills, until his death in 1930
Industrialist Oskar Schindler (19) weds Emilie Schindler (20) in Svitavy, Czech Republic
Industrialist Oskar Schindler (19) weds Emilie Schindler (20) in Svitavy, Czech Republic
RCA and GE install three test television sets in homes in Schenectady, New York, allowing trials of inventor E.F.W. Alex
RCA and GE install three test television sets in homes in Schenectady, New York, allowing trials of inventor E.F.W. Alexanderson's first home television receiver; a poor and unsteady 1.5-square-inch picture is received from a radio transmitter
Events After
Claus von Stauffenberg is promoted to Second Lieutenant
Claus Philipp Maria Justinian Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg was a German army officer who is best known for his failed attempt on 20 July 1944 to assassinate Adolf Hitler at the Wolf's Lair, part of...
Mao Zedong writes the essay "A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire" to criticize cadres not creating rural revolutiona
Mao Zedong writes the essay "A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire" to criticize cadres not creating rural revolutionary base areas
Belgium Princess Marie-Jose marries Italian's crown prince Umberto
Belgium Princess Marie-Jose marries Italian's crown prince Umberto
Businesswoman Estee Mentzer (23) weds businessman Joseph Lauter (later Lauder)
Businesswoman Estee Mentzer (23) weds businessman Joseph Lauter (later Lauder)
Mahatma Gandhi begins his famous 200-mile (320 km) protest march against the widely hated British salt tax
Mahatma Gandhi begins his famous 200-mile (320 km) protest march against the widely hated British salt tax
More from the 1920s
birth
Isaac Asimov is born
Isaac Asimov, American writer and biochemist, known for american writer and biochemist, was born on 1920-01-02.
birth
Charlie Munger is born
Charlie Munger, American businessman, known for american businessman, was born on 1924-01-01.
birth
Vernon L. Smith is born
Vernon L. Smith, American economist and nobel laureate, known for american economist and nobel laureate, was born on 1927-01-01.
Byelorussian Communist Organization is founded as a separate party
The Byelorussian Communist Organisation was a communist group in Belarus, led by Usievalad Ihnatoŭski.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened on October 24, 1929?
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), Dow Jones, or simply the Dow (), is a stock market index of 30 prominent companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States. The DJIA is one of the oldest and most commonly followed equity indices. It is price-weighted, unlike other common indices such as the Nasdaq Composite or S&P 500, which use market capitalization.
- Why is Black Thursday: Dow Jones Industrial Average drops 12.8%, starting the stock ... significant?
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), Dow Jones, or simply the Dow (), is a stock market index of 30 prominent companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States.