Dow theory
The Dow theory on stock price movement is the precursor to technical analysis and is also part of modern technical analysis. The theory was derived from 255 editorials in The Wall Street Journal written by Charles H. Dow (1851–1902), journalist, founder and first editor of The Wall Street Journal and co-founder of Dow Jones and Company. Following Dow's death, William Peter Hamilton, Robert Rhea and E. George Schaefer organized and collectively represented Dow theory, based on Dow's editorials. Dow himself never used the term Dow theory nor presented it as a trading system.
The six basic tenets of Dow theory as summarized by Hamilton, Rhea, and Schaefer are described below.