Home Â» Local Â» Extended Forecast Bethany Beach, Delaware Weather Report Â· Interactive Map Â· Extended Forecast Â· Hourly Forecast Â· Past Observations Â· Historic Averages
The Dutch later started joint stock companies, which let shareholders invest in business ventures and get a share of their profits-or losses. In 1602, the Dutch East India Company issued the first shares on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. It was the first company to issue stocks and bonds. The Amsterdam Stock Exchange (or Amsterdam Beurs) is also said to have been the first stock exchange to introduce continuous trade in the early 17th century.
The others represent industries as diverse as financial services, entertainment and information technology. Even so, the DJIA today serves the same purpose for which it was created â to provide a clear, straightforward view of the stock market and, by extension, the U.S. economy. When Charles H. Dow first unveiled his industrial stock average on May 26, 1896, the stock market was not highly regarded. Prudent investors bought bonds, which paid predictable amounts of interest and were backed by real machinery, factory buildings and other hard assets.