Explore the original annotated Dow Jones timeline and a dedicated, interactive view of the events that shaped markets from 2016 through October 2026.
Original historical chart preserved2016–2026 interactive eventsLogarithmic scale17 selectable events
01 / Historical perspective
Dow Jones · 1920–2026
The existing TNI annotated chart remains available in its original visual format. The decade explorer below provides more space for recent market events.
Historical chart artwork retained for this preview. Original public URL will not be changed by opening this file.
02 / The latest decade
2016–2026 · A decade of turning points
Explore policy shifts, crises, recoveries, and record milestones. Select any numbered marker or event card for its explanation.
2016–2026Annual average index series
51,670.10Oct 13, 2026 closing index
17Interactive event annotations
Annual average of daily closes● Orange marker: October 2026 closing observation
Data note: the blue line uses published annual averages, not invented daily observations. Its 2026 annual average is year-to-date; the orange point shows the separately verified October 13 close. Events are aligned to calendar years.
Historical wording is preserved from the archived pages. The 2016–2026 additions above are new analysis.
1920–1940: The original chart is referenced in the 2016 archive metadata. The complete first-page period commentary is not included in the recovered page 2–4 files, so no substitute description has been invented.
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is most reliable Index of USA stock market and represents overall USA stock market. That’s why Dow Jones Industrial average performance is considered US stock market performance and Dow Jones Index average return is generally regard as Market return.
Dow Jones chart shows all the major Dow Jones Industrial Average history from 1920 to present including all bull and bear market and major peaks and crashes of US stock market .
Dow Jones Inustrial Average Chart
Data source:Yahoo Finance
Key facts of Dow Jones Industrial Average:
Dow Jones industrial average current bull market is the second largest bull market of Dow Jones history. This bull market starts from march 9,2009 and is still running. Dow jones index gained 203.53% (December 11,2016) during this time.
Dow jones longest bull market was from 1987 to 2000. Dow Jones longest bull market was dominated by computer technology revolution. This bull market is also known as dot com bubble.
Dow Jones worst bear market was from 1929 to 1932. Dow Jones industrial average lost its 86 % value during this bear market. Dow came down from its peak 381.17 points to its lowest point 41 points during this bear market. This recession is also known as Great Depression.
Dow Jones peak point closing was 18312.Dow reached its peak point in May 19 2015.
Dow Jones worst losing year was 1931. During this time Dow lost its 52 percent value in a single year.
Dow Jones index best performing year was 1933. During this time, DJIA gained 74% value in a single year.
Dow Jones faced last correction in October 24 .This is also one of the largest point losing day of Dow Jones history.
Dow Jones maximum point gain was 936 points in a single day. Dow Gained this points in October 13, 2008.
Dow Jones index maximum point loss was 777 point is a day. Dow lost this point in September29, 2008
Original archived article — page 2 of 4
Original Dow Jones History Chart, 1920–1940
Dow Jones History Chart from 1941 to 1960:
Dow Jones industrial average (Djia) graph from 1941 to 1960 shows, Dow Jones chart shows 2 strong bull market and moderate bull market. In one bull market Dow Jones index gained 128 percent and another bull market Dow jones index gained 354.74 percent. Even though this 20 years are characterized by Korean War, Chinese civil war, cold war, Dow Jones climbed up almost 500 percent.
1.Bull market from 1942 to 1946 :Dow jones chart show its first strong bull market from 1942 to 1946. This bull market was 1492 days old that makes it one of the longest bull market in Dow jones’s history. During this period Dow Jones industrial average made 128 percent bullish upward start from 92.7 point.
2.Bull market from 1949 to august 1956: Bull market from 1949 to 56 is 2nd largest bull market of US stock market history. During this period, Dow Jones industrial average chart moved 160 to 524 points. That was over 200 percent move during this period.
3.Cross 500 points March 1956: Dow Jones index achieved a milestone by crossing historic 500 points in March 1956 and closed above that point.
4.Highest point: Dow Jones reached its peak point 688.2 in January 1960 among this two decades duration.
5.Bull market 1958-59: Dow Jones chart moved 63 percent during the 3rd bull market and market moved from 416 to 679 point during this phrase.
Dow Jones History Chart from 1961 to 1980
Dow Jones index chart went through flash crash 1962 and 1973-74 bear market during this time. During this twenty years, Dow Jones industrial average chart also hits milestone of 1000 points and closes above 1000 points. During flash crash, Dow was down 5.7 percent in a single day and in 1973-74 bear market, DJIA was down 45 percent. Dow Jones chart shows lot of peak and bottom during this time means market did not have extended bull market.
Flash crash 1962: In May 28 1962, market went Dow Jones industrial average went down 5.7 percent in a single day. Market was down 34.95 point that day, the second-largest point decline then on record. This is known as flash crash in Dow jones’s history. The market was anemic for year after the flash crash.
1973-1974 bear market: 11 January 1973 to 6 December 1974, DOW Jones dropped 45% from its peak. This was the seventh-worst bear market in the history of the index. This recession happens because of 1973 oil crisis and fall of the Bretton woods system.
Dow hits 1000 points: Nov. 14 1972, Dow jones raised 6.09 to close at 1,003.16. This was the first close above 1,000.00 for Dow jones chart
Dow Jones highest Point: Dow Jones industrial average chart hits 1025.21, highest point of the decades in November 24 1972.
Dow Jones lowest point: Dec. 06, 1974 Dow Jones index Closed at a 12-year low of 577.60.This is the ending day of the worst bear market since the ’30’s and Dow Jones chart hit the bottom for decades.
Original archived article — page 3 of 4
Dow Jones History Chart from 1980 to 1990:
Dow Jones Industrial average chart has a one strong bull market from 1982 to 1987 and one crash in 1987.Dow jones also passed 2000 point and 2500point mark during this period. For the decade, the Dow jones gained a 228% from the 838 level to 2,753.
Black Monday October 19, 1987: Dow Jones fell 22.61 percent in October 1987.This is the largest one day down in Dow Jones history. The largest one-day percentage drop occurred on Black Monday; October 19, 1987, when the average fell 22.61%. Dow was down 508 points and market lost $500 billion in a single day.
Bull market from august 1982 to august 1987: Dow jones was up 250 percent from 1982 to 1987. Stock market moved from 777 points to its peak 2722 points. Total number of trading days is 1,274. This bull market was fueled by merger, Leveraged buyout, hostile takeout and use of personal computer for the first time. Some companies grew at an exponential rate simply by acquiring other companies without considering the economic consequence of the acquisition.
Dow Jones index chart closed above 2000 points: January 1987, Dow Jones index hit 2000 points and closed in 2002 points, first closed above 2000 points.
Dow hit 2500 : July 1987 Dow Jones industrial average crossed the historical 2500 points and closed in 2511 points.
Dow Jones History Chart from 1991 to 2000:
This is the decade of bull market in the Dow Jones industrial average history. Original bull market started in 1987 and ended at 2000 and still longest bull market in the Dow Jones history. This bull market is also known as dot com bubble because of internet technology Company’s incredible growth. Dow Jones chart crossed 5000 points, 10000 points and 11000 points mark during this time.
Dow Gained 386 percent: Dow jones index moved from bottom of 2470.30 points to 11722 points from January 1991 to January 2000 and index gained 386 percent during this time.
Dow reached 3000 level: April 17 1991, Dow jones industrial first closed above 3000 points.
Dow crossed 5000 level: November 21, 1995, the Dow jones closed above the 5,000 level (5,023.55) for the first time
9th largest points drop: Dow lost 554.26 points or 7.18 percentage point in October 1997. This is 9th largest point drop in Dow jones history.
Dow crossed 10000 level: March 29, 1999, the Dow Jones industrial average crossed the 10,000 mark (10,006.78)
5th largest points gain: On March 2000, Dow jones gained 499 points or 4.93 percentage points in a single day. This is 5th largest point gain in Dow jones history
Dow crossed 11000 level: May 3, 1999, the Dow Jones crossed above the 11,000 mark
7th largest points drop: On April 2000, Dow was dropped 617.77 points, 5.66 percentage point. This was the 7th largest point drop in Dow Jones history and Dow lost 7.18 percentage point.
Dow Jones Chart History from 2001 to 2010:
This 10 years Dow Jones industrial average chart are characterized by great recession of 2008-09 and bull market of 2003-2007. During this decade Dow Jones index experienced maximum one day point gain and losing days. Among the top 10 one day point gain in Dow Jones history, Dow has 4 one day point gain during this decade. However, Dow Jones also has 4 one day losing days among the largest 10 one day point losing days in djia chart. Return from Dow Jones investment on average was 2.27 %.
During this 5 years, Dow grew at 10.11% rate that is 2.25 % more than the average return of Dow Jones. This bull market started on March 2003 and topped October 2007. Low and high of points of this bull market are 7524 and 14164. Some major events of this bull markets are:
Dow Jones index chart peaks at 14164 point:
Dow Jones chart reached its peak point 14164 on October 9.2007. Dow gained 3000 points from early 2006 to late 2007. Possible reason for Dow Jones big moved up are takeover, mergers, good earing reports, tech sector strong earnings, housing market big move , speculation Federal Reserve interest Rate will remain low.
Dow Jones chart largest one day point gain (936 points):
On Octobe.r 13, 2008 Dow Jones industrial average chart gained 936 points. Dow moved up from 8451.19 points to 9387.61 points this day. This is largest one day point gains for Dow Jones index. The point gain was 11.08 %, the best percentage gain since 1932 and the fifth best percentage change in Dow Jones history.
Dow Jones industrial average chart 12000 point:
October 19 2006, Dow jones chart closed above 12000 points. Index has raised 65 percent in the last 4 years.
Dow 13000 point:
On April 25, 2007: Dow closed above the 13000 points. This is the first time Dow Jones chart crossed that points.
Dow 2nd largest one day gain (889 point):
On October 28, 2008, DJIA Chart gained 889 point or 10.88 percentage on that day. This is the second largest point gain in Dow Jones history.
Dow 14000 point:
On July 19, 2007 Dow jones industrial average chart crossed 14000 points. Dow raised 1000 points less than 3 month time period.
Great recession of 2008-09:
Dow Jones index chart lost 54 % of its total value from 2007 peak to 2009 bottom. Dow lost 34 % of its value in 2008 only. This is the second largest yearly value lose in Dow Jones index and largest yearly loss after 1931.
September, 2001:
Dow jones industrial average chart lost 684.81 points or 7 .1 percent in September 17, 2001. This is the third largest one day point drop in Dow Jones history. This was the first trading day after September 11 2001 attack which is known as 9/11. Index lost 14.3 % in one week because of that event.
Dow Jones largest one day point loss (777 point):
Dow Jones industrial average lost 777 points in September 29, 2009. Dow jones index came down from 11143 to 10365 points that day. This is the largest point loss in a single day in stock market history. Dow jones chart lost its 6.98 % value that day. Dow Jones index plunged as a $700 billion financial rescue plan was rejected by US House of Representatives.
Dow Jones 2nd largest one day point loss (733 points):
Dow jones index suffered its 2nd largest one day point loss in October 15 2008 and lost 733 points in a single day. Index lost 2254 points or 21 % of its value just 15 day from October 1 to October 10.
Dow Jones index chart Bottom point:
On March 9, 2009 Dow Jones index chart closed at a 6,547.05 (a new twelve-year low) and Index had lost 20% of its value in only six weeks. Investors were scared and tried to get out of the market. As a result , we see huge volume in the monthly Dow Jones chart because of large selling and buying in the market. Volume on Dow Jones industrial chart was extremely high from September 2008 to march 2009. In march 2009, Dow Jones monthly Volume was over 10 billion. This is also the largest volume in single month in Dow Jones history.
Original archived article — page 4 of 4
Dow Jones Chart History from 2011 to 2015:
Dow Jones industrial average chart during this 5 year period is characterized by strong bull market and one market correction. This is the second longest bull market in Dow Jones history. Dow Jones index last 5 year average return was 8.91 %. In 2013 Dow Jones return was 26.49 %. This was the best return after 2000 in a single year. Dow Jones also faced one correction during this period and Dow was down 14.45% during this correction.
Dow crossed 15000 points mark:
Dow Jones index traded above the 15,000 point for the first time
Dow closed above 16000:
Dow Jones continued to move forward and crossed the 16000 points for the first time in November 18, 2013.
Dow Jones Index 17000 points:
On July 3, 2014, DJIA crossed the 17,000 point mark for the first time fueled by a strong jobs report
Dow hit 18000 points:
Dow Jones crossed the 18,000 boundary for the first time in December 23 2014.
Dow 3rd largest point gains(619 points):
Dow Jones industrial average gained 619.07 point in August 26 2015. Dow closed at 16285 points after 619 points gains. Dow index also gained 3.95 % . This is third largest points gains in dow jones history.
Dow gained 490.05 points(8th biggest):
Dow jones index gained 490.05 points in November 30 2011.
Dow 8th largest point loss(588.4 points):
Dow jones industrial average chart lost 588.4 points in a single day in august 24 2015. This is one of the largest loosing day of dow jones history. Because of august 24 dow jones points loss, dow entered into correction territory after 2011 stock market correction.
Dow Jones Most recent New high
Dow Jones industrial average chart make its recent high in may 2015. This day Dow hits 18351 and closed at 18312. This is part of 5 year bull run from 2009. During this bull run Dow Jones index become almost triple with 5 years. Low point of this bull run is 6469 and highest point was 18351 points.
Dow Jones recent big down day
Dow Jones experiences its recent crashes after making all time new high in august 2015. Dow stock falls more than1000 point august 24, 2015. Index opens at 16459 and came all the down 15370 points. Index also losses more than 2000 points in 4 consecutive trading days. These 4 days Dow Jones losses more than 10 percent of its value. Dow Jones fall down drastically because of Chinese stock market fall down and possibility of slow down of Chinese economy.
Stock market correction:
Dow Jones index faced its first correction in August 2015 after 36 month of Bull Run. Officially stock market correction is considered if index fall down to 10 % or more from its peak point. Dow Jones correction started from May 20 2015 and ended in August 2015. Dow lost 2645.95 points or 14.45 % from its peak points from May 19 2015.
Fed Interest rate increase:
Fed increased the interest rate to .25%, first rate increase after 7 years.
Dow Jones entered into correction zone second time after Dow closed at 16346 at January 8 2016. Dow Jones chart reached its lowest point at 15660 points and lost 14.48% index value from its 52 week high. Even though market experts was assuming that Dow jones may enter into bear market from the correction territory. However, Dow avoid the bear market through short rally leaded by s&p 500 index.
Dow Jones recent rally:
Dow Jones index rallied 15.55% from February 11, 2016 to April 20 2016. This is one of the quickest rally in Dow Jones history. Dow Jones not only overcome the correction zone, but also crossed last peak of November 2015. Dow Jones highest closed was 18096 at April 20 2016 before pull back.
Dow Jones chart crossed 18000 points:
Dow Jones industrial average chart crossed the 18000 points second time in April 18 2016 and closed above the 18000 points.
Bottom line
Dow Jones industrial average chart will go through up and down because of business cycle. However, investors ultimately made good returns on their investment if they hold the stock long time with some exception.
View original archived chart: Dow-jones-Chart-2011-to-2015.jpg
