US30 / Dow Jones: Live Level, Point Values and Why It Is Price-Weighted
The Dow is the one major index that is price-weighted, so a $400 share moves it more than a $40 one regardless of company size. That single quirk explains most of its odd days.
US30 is the Dow Jones Industrial Average. A point is worth $5 on the E-mini (YM), $0.50 on the Micro (MYM) and typically $1 on a CFD. It is price-weighted, not market-cap weighted, so the highest-priced shares move it most - which is why it can diverge from the S&P on days when one expensive constituent reports.
Dow 30 (US30) right now
One point = 1 of price. A standard lot is 1 units at 1 per point, so pip value = pip size × contract size × lots. Figures assume a USD account; confirm the contract size with your broker.
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Open US30 on the live desk (H1) → See what the desk does →Price-weighted, and why that matters
Most indices weight companies by market value. The Dow weights them by share price, so a constituent trading at $400 has roughly ten times the influence of one at $40 even if the second company is far larger. The practical consequence: a single expensive stock's earnings can drag the whole index, and the Dow and S&P 500 can disagree for reasons that have nothing to do with the broad market.
Point values
| Instrument | Value per point | Minimum tick |
|---|---|---|
| E-mini (YM) | $5 | 1 pt = $5 |
| Micro (MYM) | $0.50 | 1 pt = $0.50 |
| CFD (US30) | Broker-set, often $1 | Broker-defined |
The Dow's index level is large, so point moves look dramatic: a 300-point day is common and is $1,500 on one E-mini.
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Play free, no signup →What drives it
- Its 30 constituents, weighted by price, and their earnings.
- Macro data and Fed expectations, though usually less violently than the tech-heavy Nasdaq.
- Sector rotation: the Dow leans industrial and financial, so it can outperform when growth stocks fall.
Sizing it
Because a "point" here is a small fraction of a large number, traders often underestimate the distance a normal stop needs. Use the live level above and put a realistic stop in points into the calculator before choosing an instrument.
How far US30 actually moves
Measured on the OANDA feed our charting desk runs on, 2026-01-11 to 2026-09-17 (180 completed daily bars). Recalculated every week.
| Average daily range | 650.4 points |
|---|---|
| Median day | 597.2 points |
| Widest day in the window | 1757.5 points |
| Quietest day | 216.4 points |
| Average as % of price | 1.29% |
| Widest weekday | Thursday (697.7 points) |
| Busiest hour | 13:00 UTC, about 260.7 points in that hour (quietest 04:00, 46.6) |
The median is the middle day and the average is pulled up by a handful of violent ones, so size a stop against the median and expect the average to flatter you. Full table for every instrument, with the method, on average daily range by pair.
Frequently asked questions
What is one Dow point worth?
$5 on the E-mini (YM), $0.50 on the Micro (MYM), and typically $1 on a CFD.
Why is the Dow price-weighted?
It is a historical convention: constituents are weighted by share price rather than market value, so the highest-priced shares influence it most.
Why does the Dow sometimes diverge from the S&P 500?
Different weighting and different constituents. One expensive Dow component can move it while the broader market does something else.
Is the Dow less volatile than the Nasdaq?
Usually in percentage terms, because it is less concentrated in high-growth technology. Its point moves still look large because the index level is high.
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