I'll be the first to admit that the Dow Jones Industrial Average surpassing 12,000 doesn't mean much, practically speaking. Whether it closes at 12,000 or 11,999 shouldn't change your long-term investing strategy. But psychologically, it's a nice round number to see, and helps us shake the awful memories of spring 2009 that have kept so many investors out of the stock market.
I receive a daily e-mail filled with statistics about the Dow Jones Industrial Average, a basket of 30 large U.S. Companies, including 3M.
Given the fanfare around today's 12,040.16 close, I thought I'd share some of those tidbits with you. According to the e-mail, which is sent by Dow Jones Indexes, this is the highest close since June 19, 2008. Additional factoids:
- First closed above 12000 on October 19, 2006.
- This is the sixth time the DJIA climbed north of 12000.
The bad news...
- The Dow is still down 2124.37 points, or 15.00%, from its record close of 14164.53 on October 9, 2007.
The good news...
- Up 16.93% from 52 weeks ago.
- Up 83.90% from its 12-year closing low of 6547.05 on March 9, 2009.
- Year-to-date: up 4.00%.
