[2] The index was originally given a value of 50 points, based on the market closing on December 31, 1965, and is weighted by the number of shares listed for each issue.
On September 29, 2008, continuing troubles in the financial sector culminated in a loss of more than 8%.
Its lifetime low (as currently calculated) stands at 347.77 points, reached in October 1974.
After a gradual and volatile recovery since 2009, the index finally set fresh nominal records at the end of 2013, closing at an all-time high of 10,406.77 on December 31.
In addition to the overall composite, there are separate indices for industrial, transportation, utility, and financial corporations.