It is not about seeing the glass as half full or half empty, it is about seeing the whole glass. You keep talking about how the Dow closed up by 6627 but of the 30 companies that comprise the Dow Index only 17 turned a profit and most of those in single digit percentages. However several heavy hitter stocks such as American Express, Intel and Proctor and Gamble, which are also in the Dow 30, lost more 10% of their value today. Moreover the Dow is only up 1.33% year to date which does not even match the rate of inflation. As a long term investor I see the market highly overvalued and expect a major correction to happen this year. The issue with that is many publicly traded companies lack the cash reserves to withstand a major downward correction and the post correction lull. Further, the FED is under incredible pressure to begin raising interest rates. Any upward movement in the interest rate will bring to an end this anemic and flat "recovery". Couple that with China's worsening economy, our growing national debt and high unemployment rates and the question goes from will there be a market correction to when will there be a market correction. I hope this helps you to realize that stock exchange averages were never meant to be read like baseball scores. Also, realize that while the glass is half full there is always a huge hole at the top for it all to pour out of.
Dow 30 Companies - CNNMoney
Huh? Of the 30 companies that make up the DOW, only 17 made a profit? You must be joking. I can't find a single one that didn't turn a profit.
In any given year, the market will go up and down, and the rate of inflation is largely irrelevant. Even so, owning the stock, pays dividends. Those dividends combined with the increase in value, makes up for it.
Funny, given they survived the 2000 crash, and the 2008 crash. They are all still here. Even during the 1929 crash, most of the major companies survived.