The Soviet Union and the United States sign the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. The ABM Treaty regulated the establishment of anti-ballistic missile shields against nuclear missiles. It was one of the most important treaties between the two superpowers during the Cold War.

The Tupolev Tu-144 becomes the first commercial transport to exceed Mach 2. The Russian plane, sometimes nicknamed Concordski, first took to the skies in 1968, two months before the Concorde.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is held for the first time. Only three competitors completed the race in 1923. The winners were André Lagarde and Albert Leonard of France, who covered 2210 kilometers in 24 hours.

Engineers make the first major oil find in the Middle East. The discovery in Masjed Soleyman in Iran had a major impact on the country's and the world region's economy and politics. More than half of the world's oil reserves are located in the Middle East.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is first published. The Dow Jones is one of the world's most important stock market indices. Today it comprises data from 30 major U.S. companies.