May 26, 1896. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, a stock market index that tracks the performance of 30 major U.S. companies, is first published.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is a stock market index that represents the performance of 30 major companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States. It was created by Charles Dow, an American journalist and co-founder of Dow Jones & Company, and Edward Jones, a statistician. The purpose of the index was to provide a snapshot of the overall performance of the U.S. stock market.
On May 26, 1896, the first edition of the Dow Jones Industrial Average was published in The Wall Street Journal. The original index consisted of 12 industrial companies and two railroad companies. The 12 industrial companies included prominent names such as General Electric, American Cotton Oil Company, American Sugar Company, and more.
Over the years, the composition of the DJIA has changed multiple times to reflect the evolving U.S. economy. Today, it includes major companies from various sectors, such as technology, finance, retail, healthcare, and more. The DJIA is one of the most widely recognized and frequently cited stock market indices in the world, often used as a barometer of the overall health of the U.S. stock market.
Please note that while the DJIA was first published on May 26, 1896, it has undergone various modifications and adjustments since then, including changes to its composition and methodology.