The Dow Jones Industrial Average crossed 50,000 for the first time, signaling strong stock market confidence. A rising Dow may help investment-linked savings but doesn’t directly lower everyday costs.

It hasn’t been the best start to the year for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which finds itself on a three-week losing streak to cap off January. Undoubtedly, the Dow, a basket of 30 stocks, isn’t exactly the best gauge of the market,

Dow shares have underperformed, but recent results and industry supply cuts suggest a bottom may be near. DOW faces weak demand and excess capacity, but ongoing plant closures and cost cuts are gradually restoring industry balance. Despite negative free ...