by Greg Klein | May 26, 2016
A chart shows how each industry contributed to the average since 1992.
(S&P Dow Jones Indices)
Of the original dozen companies, General Electric is the only survivor under the same name, although its place on the index hasn’t been continuous. GE was dropped twice prior to 1907.
Although the index took 76 years to close on 1,000 points, it took less than a year to bolt from 9,000 to 10,000 in 1999. That same year the DJIA took just 24 days for another 1,000-point jump to 11,000. The speed of each 1,000-point climb continues to accelerate.
A bi-polar year, 2008 recorded five of the benchmark’s 10 best days and four of its worst by points. By percentage, the early Depression years of 1929 to 1933 held seven of the 10 best days and five of the worst.
Commemorating the anniversary while symbolizing market swings, green and red lights blazed on the Empire State Building the night of May 25. Honchos from S&P and some DJIA companies will ring the May 26 NYSE closing bell.
