The Dow Jones Industrial Average is one of the most-watched stock index in the world — here's how it works and why it's so influential
Jim Probasco
To many investors, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and its performance is synonymous with that of the stock market itself.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is one of the world's oldest stock market indexes, consisting of 30 US corporate giants.
Despite some criticism, the Dow remains highly respected, a reliable gauge of the overall stock market and the US economy.
While you can't invest in the DJIA itself, you can buy an index fund that tracks it, or the individual stocks.