Dow Jones in 1974

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 27.6% in 1974, from 850.86 at the end of 1973 to 616.24. Its highest close was 891.66 on Mar 13, and its lowest 577.60 on Dec 6. The biggest one-day fall was −3.5% on Nov 18 and the biggest rise +4.7% on Oct 9. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 35.5%.

Change in 1974

−27.6%

850.86 → 616.24

High

891.66

Mar 13

Low

577.60

Dec 6

After inflation

−35.5%

US CPI

Up days

109 of 253

longest run 6 up, 11 down

Below record

-41.4%

at the end of 1974

Dow Jones, daily closes 1974

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 1974

What happened, and how the Dow Jones moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.

1
Friday, August 9

Richard Nixon resigns as US president. Source

Dow Jones: −1.0% that day · −15.5% a month later
2
Tuesday, October 8

Franklin National Bank is declared insolvent. Source

Dow Jones: −0.8% that day · +11.1% a month later
3
Wednesday, October 9 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +4.7%.
4
Monday, November 18 From the data

Biggest one-day fall of the year: −3.5%.
5
Friday, December 6

Dow closes at 577.60, the low of the 1973-74 bear market. Source

Dow Jones: −1.6% that day · +9.2% a month later
6
Friday, December 6 From the data

Bear market low: 577.60, 45.1% below the peak.

Biggest days of 1974

Best days		Worst days
Oct 9	+4.7%	Nov 18	−3.5%
Oct 29	+4.0%	Jan 9	−3.1%
Oct 7	+3.9%	Oct 23	−2.7%
Jul 12	+3.6%	Jul 8	−2.7%
Sep 5	+3.5%	Feb 4	−2.7%

Volatility: 22.6% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	855.55	+0.6%	880.69	823.11
Feb	860.53	+0.6%	863.42	803.90
Mar	846.68	−1.6%	891.66	846.68
Apr	836.75	−1.2%	869.92	827.68
May	802.17	−4.1%	865.77	795.37
Jun	802.41	0.0%	859.67	802.41
Jul	757.43	−5.6%	806.24	757.43
Aug	678.58	−10.4%	797.56	656.84
Sep	607.87	−10.4%	677.88	607.87
Oct	665.52	+9.5%	673.50	584.56
Nov	618.66	−7.0%	674.75	608.57
Dec	616.24	−0.4%	616.24	577.60

Other Markets in 1974

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
Dow Jones	−27.6%	616.24
S&P 500 in 1974	−29.7%	68.56
Nasdaq Composite in 1974	−35.1%	59.82
Gold in 1974	+66.1%	$186.50
Silver in 1974	+37.4%	$4.47
US 10-year Treasury yield in 1974	+0.50 pp	7.40%

1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979

Dow Jones in 1974: FAQ

How much did the Dow Jones Industrial Average fall in 1974?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1974?

Highest: 891.66 on March 13, 1974. Lowest: 577.60 on December 6, 1974. It closed higher on 109 of 253 trading days.

What happened to the Dow Jones Industrial Average on December 6, 1974?

Dow closes at 577.60, the low of the 1973-74 bear market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.6% that day, and was +9.2% a month later.

Data: Daily closes since 26 May 1896. Saturday sessions were held until 1952. The NYSE was closed from 31 Jul to 11 Dec 1914. Price index: dividends are not included. Inflation: US CPI-U. Events marked "From the data" are found automatically from the closing prices; the others are researched, with the source linked. Not investment advice.