The Dow just crossed 40,000 for the first time. The number is big but means little for your 401(k)
Through its long history, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has offered a way for people to get a quick read on how Wall Street is doing
By Stan Choe
Published - May 16, 2024, 01:06 PM ET
Last Updated - May 27, 2024, 12:56 AM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — The Dow Jones Industrial Average just topped 40,000 for the first time, the latest pop in what's been a surprisingly good year for Wall Street.
But just like New Year's represents an arbitrary point in time in the Earth's revolution around the sun, such milestones for the Dow don't mean that much inherently.
For one, with just 30 companies, the Dow represents a tiny slice of Corporate America. For another, almost no one's 401(k) account sees its performance depend on the Dow, which has become more of a relic used for historical comparisons.
Here's a look at what the Dow is, how it got here and how its use among investors is on the wane:
