What is DOW, what does it stand for?

Ron: What is DOW, what does it stand for?
It has something to do with something called the “stock market” or something like that…I”m just curious to know what that means and what does that have anything to do with the US…usually those words appear and then some numbers after it…does anyone know what it means??

Answers and Views:

Answer by class510
The Dow is named after Charles Dow. It is used as a buisiness health indicator in the stock market. Several companies make up the Dow Jones industrial average. The companies are chosen with the intent of being an overall indicator of the country’s economic health. When the average value of those companies are moving up, based on buying and selling of their stocks, then it is up – signifying the health of the economy is a little better. The opposite is also true.