An introduction to the Global Dow Index

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- The Global Dow launched on Tuesday -- the first addition to the Dow Jones Averages family of indexes in 75 years.

Like its famous progenitor, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stocks in The Global Dow are selected by senior editors of The Wall Street Journal. Joining them for this new index were Dow Jones Newswires senior editors in the three major regions of the globe.

The Global Dow (GDOW 1,418.45, -12.82, -0.9%) is much bigger -- 150 stocks rather than 30 -- and its components are weighted equally rather than by price. *

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/New-global-index-takes-pulse/story.aspx?guid=%7BC57CB27C%2D177A%2D4491%2D84DF%2D19AC8C3A195B%7D

...The largest three components by float-adjusted market capitalization in the Global Dow are Exxon Mobil Corp., Procter & Gamble Co. and General Electric Co. The smallest are General Motors Corp., Renewable Energy Corp. ASA (Norway), and Suntech Power Holdings Co. (China).

As of the close on Monday, the Global Dow is down 44.22% for the year to date. The index's performance will be listed each day in the Markets Lineup chart package, on page C4.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122644452817118779.html

Here is a link to the official press release:

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/news.html?d=154421

Here is a video of the announcement:



In my view, it should gain more press attention.

And now for the acid test, the All Data chart, which shows the impressive upswing 2003-2008, and the last unbelievable, shocking few months, a "once-in-a-lifetime" event. Yes, definitely enough for a lifetime.