The Dow Jones industrial average

Amid weeks of stock market turmoil, many worried investors have been tracking the daily trajectory of the Dow Jones industrial average like never before. But few understand how the index of 30 of the biggest U.S. companies is calculated — or what the closely watched measure of stock market performance really means. Here are some questions and answers about the world's most famous stock index. Q: What is the Dow Jones industrial average? A: The Dow, the oldest continuing U.S. market index, is a way of measuring the combined stock values of 30 big U.S. companies. Today in Business with Reuters It started out with 12 components, including now-defunct companies like U.S. Leather Co. and Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Co. The only original component still around is General Electric Co. These days, the index has expanded to... [read full story]