2009 market performance in historical perspective

The Dow industrials fell 120.46 points, or 1.1%, to 10428.05 last Friday, capping what was otherwise a banner year that saw the average notch its biggest annual percentage gain in six years. For 2009, the blue-chip measure ended with an 18.8% gain. The Nasdaq Composite Index wrapped up 2009 with a 43.9% gain, while the Russell 2000 index gained 25.2% and the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index added 23.5%.

But still, the first decade is a lost decade for investors. See graph below.