The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) index dropped around ***** points in the four weeks from February 12 to March 11, 2020, but has since recovered and peaked at ********* points as of November 24, 2024. In February 2020 - just prior to the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the DJIA index stood at a little over ****** points. U.S. markets suffer as virus spreads The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a turbulent period for stock markets – the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also recorded dramatic drops. At the start of February, some analysts remained optimistic that the outbreak would ease. However, the increased spread of the virus started to hit investor confidence, prompting a record plunge in the stock markets. The Dow dropped by more than ***** points in the week from February 21 to February 28, which was a fall of **** percent – its worst percentage loss in a week since October 2008. Stock markets offer valuable economic insights The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a stock market index that monitors the share prices of the 30 largest companies in the United States. By studying the performance of the listed companies, analysts can gauge the strength of the domestic economy. If investors are confident in a company’s future, they will buy its stocks. The uncertainty of the coronavirus sparked fears of an economic crisis, and many traders decided that investment during the pandemic was too risky.

The main stock market index of United States, the US500, rose to 6385 points on August 22, 2025, gaining 0.23% from the previous session. Over the past month, the index has climbed 0.41% and is up 13.32% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks this benchmark index from United States. United States Stock Market Index - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on August of 2025.

The value of the DJIA index amounted to ****** at the end of June 2025, up from ********* at the end of March 2020. Global panic about the coronavirus epidemic caused the drop in March 2020, which was the worst drop since the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008. Dow Jones Industrial Average index – additional information The Dow Jones Industrial Average index is a price-weighted average of 30 of the largest American publicly traded companies on New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ, and includes companies like Goldman Sachs, IBM and Walt Disney. This index is considered to be a barometer of the state of the American economy. DJIA index was created in 1986 by Charles Dow. Along with the NASDAQ 100 and S&P 500 indices, it is amongst the most well-known and used stock indexes in the world. The year that the 2018 financial crisis unfolded was one of the worst years of the Dow. It was also in 2008 that some of the largest ever recorded losses of the Dow Jones Index based on single-day points were registered. On September 29, 2008, for instance, the Dow had a loss of ****** points, one of the largest single-day losses of all times. The best years in the history of the index still are 1915, when the index value increased by ***** percent in one year, and 1933, year when the index registered a growth of ***** percent.

View data of the S&P 500, an index of the stocks of 500 leading companies in the US economy, which provides a gauge of the U.S. equity market.

China's main stock market index, the SHANGHAI, rose to 3826 points on August 22, 2025, gaining 1.45% from the previous session. Over the past month, the index has climbed 6.80% and is up 34.03% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks this benchmark index from China. China Shanghai Composite Stock Market Index - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on August of 2025.

As of January 29, 2025, the FTSE index stood at ******** points - well above its average value of around ***** points in the past few years.On the 12th of March 2020, amid the escalating crisis surrounding the coronavirus and fears of a global recession, the FTSE 100 suffered the second largest one day crash in its history and the biggest since the 1987 market crash. On the 23rd of March, the FTSE index saw its lowest value this year to date at ******** but has since began a tentative recovery. With the continuation of the pandemic, the FTSE 100 index was making a tentative recovery between late March 2020 and early June 2020. Since then the FSTE 100 index had plateaued towards the end of July, before starting a tentative upward trend in November. FTSE 100 The Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index, otherwise known as the FTSE 100 Index is a share index of the 100 largest companies trading on the London Stock Exchange in terms of market capitalization. At the end of March 2024, the largest company trading on the LSE was Shell. The largest ever initial public offering (IPO) on the LSE was Glencore International plc. European stock exchanges While nearly every country in Europe has a stock exchange, only five are considered major, and have a market capital of over one trillion U.S dollars. European stock exchanges make up two of the top ten major stock markets in the world. Europe’s biggest stock exchange is the Euronext which combines seven markets based in Belgium, France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Portugal.

Indonesia's main stock market index, the JCI, fell to 7859 points on August 22, 2025, losing 0.40% from the previous session. Over the past month, the index has climbed 5.22% and is up 4.17% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks this benchmark index from Indonesia. Indonesia Stock Market (JCI) - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on August of 2025.

United Kingdom's main stock market index, the GB100, rose to 9309 points on August 21, 2025, gaining 0.23% from the previous session. Over the past month, the index has climbed 3.16% and is up 12.32% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks this benchmark index from United Kingdom. United Kingdom Stock Market Index (GB100) - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on August of 2025.

Stock market return (%, year-on-year) in China was reported at 13.47 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Stock market return (%, year-on-year) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Key information about India Sensitive 30 (Sensex)

• India Sensitive 30 (Sensex) closed at 73,198.1 points in Feb 2025, compared with 77,500.6 points at the previous month end
• India Equity Market Index: Month End: BSE: Sensitive 30 (Sensex) data is updated monthly, available from Apr 1979 to Feb 2025, with an average number of 4,285.0 points
• The data reached an all-time high of 84,299.8 points in Sep 2024 and a record low of 115.6 points in Nov 1979

• In the latest reports, SENSEX recorded a daily P/E ratio of 20.6 in Mar 2025

Euro Area's main stock market index, the EU50, rose to 5483 points on August 22, 2025, gaining 0.38% from the previous session. Over the past month, the index has climbed 2.60% and is up 11.70% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks this benchmark index from Euro Area. Euro Area Stock Market Index (EU50) - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on August of 2025.

Key information about China Shanghai Shenzhen 300

• China Shanghai Shenzhen 300 closed at 3,890.1 points in Feb 2025, compared with 3,817.1 points at the previous month end
• China Equity Market Index: Month End: Shanghai Shenzhen 300 data is updated monthly, available from Apr 2005 to Feb 2025, with an average number of 3,388.0 points
• The data reached an all-time high of 5,688.5 points in Oct 2007 and a record low of 856.0 points in May 2005

• In the latest reports, Shanghai Stock Exchange recorded a daily P/E ratio of 14.2 in Mar 2025

Russia's main stock market index, the MOEX, rose to 2898 points on August 22, 2025, gaining 0.50% from the previous session. Over the past month, the index has climbed 2.00% and is up 8.84% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks this benchmark index from Russia. Russia Stock Market Index MOEX CFD - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on August of 2025.

Between January 1971 and May 2025, gold had average annual returns of **** percent, which was only slightly more than the return of commodities, with an annual average of around eight percent. The annual return of gold was over ** percent in 2024. What is the total global demand for gold? The global demand for gold remains robust owing to its historical importance, financial stability, and cultural appeal. During economic uncertainty, investors look for a safe haven, while emerging markets fuel jewelry demand. A distinct contrast transpired during COVID-19, when the global demand for gold experienced a sharp decline in 2020 owing to a reduction in consumer spending. However, the subsequent years saw an increase in demand for the precious metal. How much gold is produced worldwide? The production of gold depends mainly on geological formations, market demand, and the cost of production. These factors have a significant impact on the discovery, extraction, and economic viability of gold mining operations worldwide. In 2024, the worldwide production of gold was expected to reach *** million ounces, and it is anticipated that the rate of growth will increase as exploration technologies improve, gold prices rise, and mining practices improve.

As of 31 May 2025, MSCI U.S. had an average **-year return rate of ***** percent, whereas gold had a return rate of ***** percent. Gold mining overview In light of recent technological advancements shaping the gold mining market, global gold production has been rather stable in the last few years, hovering around ***** metric tons since 2020. Among nations, Australia holds the highest gold production, surpassing countries with the highest mine gold reserves. Gold as a financial security Known for its ability to provide diversification to investment portfolios, gold has exhibited a positive trend in its Gold’s return rate was particularly high in the early 2000s, and, despite experiencing a decline during the pandemic, it demonstrated a remarkable recovery since. Furthermore, gold serves as a valuable asset for a nation's economic stability, with the United States holding the highest amount of

Canada's main stock market index, the TSX, rose to 28055 points on August 21, 2025, gaining 0.63% from the previous session. Over the past month, the index has climbed 2.53% and is up 21.78% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks this benchmark index from Canada. Canada Stock Market Index (TSX) - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on August of 2025.

Italy's main stock market index, the IT40, rose to 43038 points on August 22, 2025, gaining 0.06% from the previous session. Over the past month, the index has climbed 5.75% and is up 27.90% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks this benchmark index from Italy. Italy Stock Market Index (IT40) - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on August of 2025.

General Motors was the market leader in terms of U.S. light vehicle sales in 2024. Between January and December 2024, consumers in the United States bought around *** million GM vehicles, making General Motors the producer of approximately **** percent of the automobiles sold in the U.S. during that time.  Rebounding after a pandemic-related dip U.S. light-vehicle sales are stalling: the U.S. automotive industry sold roughly ***** million light vehicles between January and December 2024. This compares to about **** million units one year before and close to ** million vehicles in 2019. The trend is slightly different for America’s most popular manufacturer. GM’s global light vehicle sales declined in 2024, compared with the figures reported for the same twelve months in 2023. The U.S. automotive industry had several good years between 2015 and 2018, when consumers purchased more than ** million light vehicles annually for an unprecedented four years in a row. This stellar spell came to an end in 2019. Slowing economies and the COVID-19 pandemic had a strong negative effect on vehicle production and consumption. The U.S. auto market had high hopes for a V-shaped recovery in 2021 and 2022, but the reality was different. Light vehicle sales in North America dropped to **** million in 2022, after encouraging sales in 2021. The regional market was growing in 2024, but had yet to reach pre-pandemic levels. A competitive market The automobile market in the United States is a competitive space, with Toyota Motor trailing General Motors in the ranking. Chevrolet, a division of General Motors, recorded the second-best initial quality in the U.S. as of May 2024. It was preceded by Ram. Lexus, a subsidiary of Toyota, ranked eighth in this quality ranking but sixth in overall U.S. consumer satisfaction in 2024, with an index score ***** points above its main luxury car competitor, BMW. General Motors brands were at a similar position in the ranking, with the automaker's Cadillac brand earning the same index score as Lexus.

France's main stock market index, the FR40, fell to 7938 points on August 21, 2025, losing 0.44% from the previous session. Over the past month, the index has climbed 2.50% and is up 5.50% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks this benchmark index from France. France Stock Market Index (FR40) - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on August of 2025.

Germany's main stock market index, the DE40, rose to 24363 points on August 22, 2025, gaining 0.29% from the previous session. Over the past month, the index has climbed 0.50% and is up 30.75% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks this benchmark index from Germany. Germany Stock Market Index (DE40) - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on August of 2025.