Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A stock market index: "Dow Jones" refers specifically to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), a price-weighted measurement stock market index. It tracks the stock performance of 30 large, publicly-owned companies based in the United States.
   • A market indicator: It is used as a key benchmark and indicator of the overall health and trends of the U.S. stock market.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The Dow Jones fell 200 points today. (This indicates a decline in the value of the index.)
  • Investors watch the Dow Jones to gauge market sentiment. (This shows its use as a measurement tool.)
  • A record high for the Dow Jones signaled economic optimism. (This demonstrates its role as a benchmark.)

Advanced Usage

• "The Dow": A common, abbreviated way to refer to the Dow Jones Industrial Average in financial news and conversation.

  • The Dow closed up for the third consecutive day.

• "Dow Jones Industrial Average": The full, formal name of the index. Using the full name emphasizes precision.

  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average is one of the oldest stock indices.

Variants and Related Words

• Dow Jones Averages (plural noun): Refers to the family of market indices created by Dow Jones & Company, which includes the Transportation Average and the Utility Average, in addition to the Industrial Average.

  • The Dow Jones Averages provide different views of the market.

• Blue-chip stocks (noun phrase): A term for the shares of large, reputable, and financially sound companies, like those typically found in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

  • Her portfolio is focused on stable blue-chip stocks.

Synonyms

• DJIA: The standard acronym for the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
• The Dow 30: A nickname referring to the 30 component companies of the index.

Related Phrases

• "To beat the Dow": An investment strategy or goal of achieving returns that exceed the performance of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

  • His fund's strategy is designed to beat the Dow over the long term.

• "Dow Jones news": Refers to financial and business news, often from the Dow Jones Newswires service, a major global news provider.

  • Traders reacted quickly to the Dow Jones news about interest rates.

Noun

1. an indicator of stock market prices; based on the share values of 30 blue-chip stocks listed on the New York Stock Exchange
   • the Dow Jones Industrial Average is the most widely cited indicator of how the stock market is doing