The Ups and Dow(ns) of 2009
December 28, 2009
So, you're feeling all cheery, because the Dow Jones Industrial Average has "recovered" this year. And is likely to close the year, at or about 10,500.
That of course is about 2,000 points above where the Dow was at this time last year, in the vortex of the credit crisis.
Who wouldn't be happy with a 23 percent gain on the year?
Someone who stuck with stocks for two years. That number, 10,500, still is 21 percent below where the Dow stood on December 28 of 2007.
Here are some comparative numbers of interest, for late 2007, 2008 and 2009.
DJIA (Dow Jones Industrial Average)
December 28, 2009 10,534.46
December 26, 2008 8,515.55
December 28, 2007 13,365.87
VIX (CBOE Volatility Index)
December 24, 2007 19.08
December 24, 2008 45.02
December 24, 2009 19.47
FEDERAL DEFICIT (Per month)
November 2007 -$98.2B
November 2008 -$125.2B
November 2009 -$120.3B
Sources: Yahoo Finance, U.S. Treasury
