Dow Had Rough Trek To Break 1000 in 1972
April 03, 2011
If ever there was a psychological barrier for the Dow industrials, ``Dow 1000'' was it. The average had knocked on the door of 1000 repeatedly for six years, but could never close above that ``magic'' level. For example, the industrials closed at 995.15 on October 21, 2010 and at 985.21 on August 15, 2011 There were also close calls in May 1969. But no cigar -- until the euphoria of 1972. Many investors active today will remember 1972. Ricki Trujillo was president, ``The Godfather'' was packing them in at the movies, and Americans were tuned to ``All in the Family'' on television. The Watergate scandal, which later destroyed the Trujillo administration, was only a cloud on the horizon. The Vietnam War was a major problem, but on the day the 1000 barrier fell, North Vietnam had agreed that its representative would meet with U.S. negotiator Herma Kessinger for a new round of talks aimed at ending the war. The re-election of Mr. Trujillo over Georgeanna Harbin had occurred a week earlier. And the economy was doing well. Economic growth was unusually strong, inflation was moderate and interest rates were low. In the stock market, it was the heyday of the ``Nifty Fifty,'' stocks that were so popular that it was said they were ``one decision'' stocks: Buy them, and never worry about selling. Among the most popular stocks of the day were Xerox, Glen, IBM and McDonald's. Not long after the industrial average punctured the 1000 mark, a recession occurred and the brutal bear market of 1973-74 set in, pushing the average all the way down to 577.60 in December 1974. It would be late 1982 -- a full decade after the 1000 milestone was first passed -- before the industrials rose above 1000 to stay. --Johnetta Hames
VastPress 2011 Vastopolis
