proof that the sequester is not harming the economy. But there is an old saying. "The stock market is not the economy and the economy is not the stock market."

And then of course conservatives talk out of both sides of their mouth by claiming that gains in the economy should not be credited to President Obama's polices which of course is another lie.

Even then the DOW is not needed to be observed everyday ...here on DU or else where. Of course AP needs to think it's doing something worth while besides supplementing words for actual quotes.

54% own stocks in 401ks, IRAs or investment accounts. Plenty of the rest have pension funds which nigh universally invest in stocks.

Not to mention that the customers, vendors and employers of the vast majority of Americans likewise have investments in equities and are in some part driven to spend more or less based on the gains or losses the see. There's a reason the stock market crash of 1929 sparked a depression and that was when only a very few people really did own stocks. The idea that anyone, with the possible exception of barter-based subsistence farmers, is isolated from the equity markets in the US is naive. Even drug dealers need cash buyers, and those buyers must get that cash directly or indirectly from the willingness of corporations to spend, to employ, and to raise money, all of which depend in large degree on the equities market.

now have mostly recouped. If you are in it for the long run then you don't need to pay attention to the DOW everyday or every week. Maybe every 3 months might be worth it.

I don't know why you responded with who is affected. My post had nothing to do with that. Thanks for playing.

Your title:"The DOW is not relevant to the common person. It is for the top 10% who are invested."

Your claim:"I don't know why you responded with who is affected. My post had nothing to do with that."

Both simply cannot be true

My first opinion was/is about questioning the necessity of day to day observation of the DOW ...which is skewed anyway. It's just a number and is not a true representation of the economy. If it did then it would have figured inflation. Unless you are a stock broker there is no good reason to pay attention to the DOW everyday.

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