The Dow Jones has also been subject to such fluctuations that is why a lot of companies have been taken off the market index. For instance, AIG, US Rubber, and General Motors. I cringe every time someone says the market will return a trader 10% compounded a year based upon the Dow index because it clearly isn't true because even the most selectively chosen companies to represent the most popular index that a lot of investors worship, also falls prey to the 99% failure rule. Thus the 10% is inflated making it look appealing to the novice who wants an easy shot at retirement but fails because it turns out that reality is harsh, and the financial industry is full of lies to bring in a fresh crop of losers just like the kings of Egypt needed a fresh pair of workers to build the old pyramids when the current workers were to old and weak to work.