Dow Jones DJIA

Dow Jones, the granddaddy of financial news, was founded in 1882 by Charles Dow, Edward Jones, and Charles Bergstresser, who likely envisioned their creation as the stuffy old man’s version of a stock ticker. Known for its staple product, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, this venerable institution has become the gold standard for measuring market performance and the uninvited guest at every investor’s dinner party. Defining moments include the first publication of “The Wall Street Journal” in 1889, a paper that’s weathered more financial crises than your average hedge fund manager. With a valuation edging towards the $5 billion mark, Dow Jones sits comfortably atop the financial media mountain, though not without its share of scandals—such as the 2008 spat over the accuracy of its coverage during the subprime mortgage crisis and more recent controversies involving its data privacy practices. Today, under the stewardship of executives like Almar Latour, it grapples with the digital age while maintaining its old-school credibility. In a world of fleeting fads and flashy startups, Dow Jones stands as a testament to the enduring power of a good stock market index and the ability to make or break a portfolio with a single headline.