Markets

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at a record 11,722.98 on Jan. 14, 2000.

Note: Graph shows DJIA levels at the first of the month.
 

After climbing steadily during the latter part of the 1990s, the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached a bumpy plateau in 2000.  The Dow Jones Averages Annual Report described 2000 as "the most volatile year in recent history for the industrial average."  "The DJIA moved up or down by at least 1% on 40% of the trading days," the Report said.  The Report also noted that 2000 was the first year since 1990 in which the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished at a lower level than it started.  Interestingly the Dow Jones Utility Average increased by 45.45% during 2000.

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The Nasdaq Composite Index closed at a record 5048.62 on March 10, 2000.

Note: Graph shows Index levels at the end of the month.
 

Nasdaq is an electronic based stock market that started operations in 1971.  (On February 5, 1971, the Nasdaq Composite Index had a base of 100.00).  In 2000 about 4,800 companies were trading on Nasdaq.  Market value at the end of March 2000 was $6,259,005,489; by the end of Oct. 2000 it had fallen to $4,844,187,916, and by the end of Nov. 2000 it stood at $3,764,811,122.