Dow Jones U.S. Index, commonly known as the Dow Jones U.S. Index. Or simply the Dow Jones Index, refers to several stock market indexes that measure the performance of different sectors of the U.S. stock market. These indices are created and maintained by S&P Dow Jones Indices, a subsidiary of S&P Global. The most famous Dow Jones index is the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), often referred to as "the Dow". The Dow is made up of 30 large public companies from various industries and is considered representative of the entire U.S. stock market. The index is price-weighted, meaning that higher priced stocks have a greater impact on the index's performance.
Investors and financial professionals closely watch the Dow as a barometer of the overall health and direction of the U.S. stock market. Changes in the Dow can reflect broader market trends and investor sentiment.