Insurance Sector Posts Biggest Gain for April in Europe and Worldwide Energy Sector Takes the Hardest Hit in US & Worldwide
The U.S. blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 5.99% in April, closing at 8471.61. Stock market indexes measuring Asia fell, while Europe and world markets closed up in April, according to preliminary monthly figures from global index provider, Dow Jones Indexes and STOXX Ltd.
(All Index Results As Of U.S. Markets Close On April 28, 2003. Please Contact Dow Jones/Stoxx Indexes For Updated And Month-End Data.)
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 5.99% in April, closing at 8471.61. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 1.55% for the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 479.48 points between March 31 and April 28, the first 400-point-plus move since November 2002. The month of April has also seen the fewest down days for the Dow Jones Industrial Average so far in 2003. (Index calculated in US dollars)
- Measuring Europe, the Dow Jones STOXX 50 index was up 12.08% for April, closing at 2352.61. Year-to-date, the index is down 2.28%. (Index calculated in Euros)
- The Dow Jones Asian Titans 50 index fell 4% in April to 71.25. Year-to-date, the index is down 13.64%. (Index calculated in US dollars)
- The Dow Jones Global Titans 50 worldwide blue-chip market index rose 8.1% in April, closing at 154.28. Year-to-date, the index is up 2.05%. (Index calculated in US dollars)
- In the U.S., the Financial sector was the biggest winner, posting a 10.88% gain. For the second consecutive month, the Dow Jones Energy sector posted the biggest loss, dropping .85% in April.
- In Europe, the Dow Jones STOXX 600 Insurance sector posted the biggest gain, climbing 27.17%, marking the first time the Insurance sector has performed the best in Europe since August 2002. The Dow Jones STOXX 600 Energy sector posted the narrowest gain, climbing 2.16%.
- Globally, the Insurance sector also led, rising 18.31% in the Dow Jones Sector Titans Index. The Dow Jones Cyclical Goods & Services sector fell 1.37%.
| 12/31/02 | 3/31/03 | 4/28/03 | |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average ($US) | 8341.63 | 7992.13 | 8471.61 |
| Dow Jones STOXX 50 (€) | 2407.51 | 2098.89 | 2352.61 |
| Dow Jones Asian Titans 50 ($US) | 82.51 | 74.22 | 71.25 |
| Dow Jones Global Titans 50 ($US) | 151.18 | 142.71 | 154.28 |
| Dow Jones US Financial Sector ($US) | 328.20 | 363.93 | |
| Dow Jones US Energy Sector ($US) | 200.14 | 201.85 | |
| Dow Jones Stoxx 600 Insurance Sector (€) | 113.84 | 144.77 | |
| Dow Jones Stoxx 600 Energy Sector (€) | 237.61 | 242.76 | |
| Dow Jones Sector Titans Insurance ($US) | 138.21 | 163.52 | |
| Dow Jones Sector Titans Cyclical Goods & Services ($US) | 127.39 | 125.63 |
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is the oldest and most widely quoted U.S. stock market index. The 30 stocks that make up/down the Industrial Average are major factors in and critical components of their respective industries.
The Dow Jones STOXX 50 is a European blue-chip index that includes 50 leading European stocks from 17 western European countries.
The Dow Jones Asian Titans 50 Index represents diversified coverage of the 50 biggest and best-known Asia/Pacific blue-chip companies from 10 countries.
The Dow Jones Global Titans 50 Index measures 50 blue-chip, globally oriented companies.
