The Dow Jones started with just 12 stocks
In 1896, Charles Dow launched the Dow Jones Industrial Average with just 12 stocks, creating the first simple measure of the U.S. economy's health.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average, now a global financial benchmark, began on May 26, 1896, tracking only 12 prominent industrial companies. Journalist Charles Dow created this index to offer a simple snapshot of America's booming industrial sector during the Gilded Age, democratizing access to economic insights for investors.
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