The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is one of the most closely watched stock market indexes in the world, and for a good reason. Its composition of 30 large, publicly-owned companies based in the United States represents a cross-section of the nation's economy. These blue-chip stocks are considered industry leaders and are used to gauge the market's performance and, by extension, the economic health of the United States. In this article, we'll explore the impact and importance of these 30 constituent companies on the Dow and the broader market.
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