Dow Misses Record High as UnitedHealth Soars 12% But Volume Ranks 409th in Market Activity

On August 15, 2025, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed with a 0.04% decline, trading at $44,955.09, as a $0.25 billion volume ranked it 409th in market activity. The index narrowly missed a record high after a brief intraday surge, driven primarily by UnitedHealth’s 12% rally following a significant investment from Berkshire Hathaway. However, broader market momentum was constrained by mixed economic data and sector-specific headwinds.

UnitedHealth’s surge underscored the index’s sensitivity to healthcare sector performance, as rising costs and regulatory pressures have weighed on the company’s stock this year. Meanwhile, Applied Materials’ 14% drop highlighted ongoing concerns about weak demand in China and macroeconomic uncertainty, dragging on the Dow’s industrials component. The Trump-Putin summit in Alaska also drew investor attention, with speculation about potential geopolitical resolutions influencing risk appetite but failing to sustain a broader rally.

The strategy of buying the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding them for one day from 2022 to 2025 generated a total profit of $10,720, with cumulative returns reaching 1.08 times the initial investment. This approach reflects the role of liquidity in identifying short-term opportunities, though market volatility and sector rotations contributed to fluctuations in performance over the period.