Putting Today's Investment Climate in Perspective
In the February 11th issue of The Outlook, Standard & Poor's looks at their 500 Composite Index since 1928. The average annual total return of this index did not show a negative return until 2000 (minus 9.1%), although some years are grouped. The 2001 return was minus 11.9%; the return for a dismal 2002 was minus 22.1%. How soon we forget.
Return for subsequent years (2003-2007) were positive until 2008 (minus 37%). The 1928-2008 return was 9.7%.
Weekly issues of The Outlook can be found at The Library Center in the Reference Department.
Is the S&P 500 a better measure of market movement than the Dow Jones Industrial Average? There may not be an objective answer to that question, but your investment decisions should take into account the advantages and disadvantages of each.
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