[Dennis Kalma]

Is the Dow that was used back in the thirties really the same as today? I admit my knowledge is weak and my understanding simplistic, but wouldn't you at least have to correct for inflation to get an apples to apples comparison (not on P/E I suppose)?

I thought the Dow was made up of a selection of companies, trade weighted which changed over time....is that true? Also, isn't the increase in global trading cause an increase in the risk factors, which in turn would demand a higher return on investment? I mean, expecting a 10% return when inflation is running at 2.5% would include a risk premium of some sort....

Oh well, hopefully someone who really understands what is going on can enlighten all of us...

Dennis