DJIA (Dow Jones Industrial Average)

One of the oldest and most widely quoted stock market indices in the world, created by Charles Dow and Edward Jones in 1896. The DJIA tracks 30 large-cap U.S. companies and is price-weighted, meaning a higher-priced stock has more influence on the index regardless of market cap. Despite criticism that its methodology is outdated compared to the S&P 500, "the Dow" remains a cultural shorthand for the health of the stock market.