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Dow Jones in 1978

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 3.1% in 1978, from 831.17 at the end of 1977 to 805.01. Its highest close was 907.74 on Sep 8, and its lowest 742.12 on Feb 28. The biggest one-day fall was −2.4% on Oct 16 and the biggest rise +4.5% on Nov 1. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 11.2%.

Change in 1978
−3.1%
831.17 → 805.01
High
907.74
Sep 8
Low
742.12
Feb 28
After inflation
−11.2%
US CPI
Up days
126 of 252
longest run 6 up, 9 down
Below record
-23.5%
at the end of 1978

Dow Jones, daily closes 1978

Numbers mark the events below
758825892JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec1Feb 28: Bear market low: 742.12, 26.9% below the peak.2Oct 16: Biggest one-day fall of the year: −2.4%.3Nov 1: Biggest one-day rise of the year: +4.5%.

Key Events in 1978

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

  1. 1
    Tuesday, February 28 From the data
    Bear market low: 742.12, 26.9% below the peak.
  2. 2
    Monday, October 16 From the data
    Biggest one-day fall of the year: −2.4%.
  3. 3
    Wednesday, November 1 From the data
    Biggest one-day rise of the year: +4.5%.

Biggest days of 1978

Best daysWorst days
Nov 1+4.5%Oct 16−2.4%
Aug 2+2.6%Oct 31−2.4%
Apr 14+2.6%Dec 18−2.2%
Jun 5+1.9%Nov 13−1.9%
Apr 17+1.9%Oct 27−1.8%

Volatility: 14.3% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

MonthCloseChangeHighLow
Jan769.92−7.4%817.74763.34
Feb742.12−3.6%782.66742.12
Mar757.36+2.1%773.82742.72
Apr837.32+10.6%837.32751.04
May840.61+0.4%858.37822.07
Jun818.95−2.6%866.51812.28
Jul862.27+5.3%862.27805.79
Aug876.82+1.7%900.12860.71
Sep865.82−1.3%907.74857.16
Oct792.45−8.5%901.42792.45
Nov799.03+0.8%827.79785.26
Dec805.01+0.7%821.90787.51

Other Markets in 1978

Change over the calendar year.

MarketChangeYear-end
Dow Jones−3.1%805.01
S&P 500 in 1978+1.1%96.11
Nasdaq Composite in 1978+12.3%117.98
Gold in 1978+37.0%$226.00
Silver in 1978+26.6%$6.02
US 10-year Treasury yield in 1978+1.37 pp9.15%
1970197119721973197419751976197719781979

Dow Jones in 1978: FAQ

How much did the Dow Jones Industrial Average fall in 1978?

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 3.1% in 1978, from 831.17 at the end of 1977 to 805.01. Its highest close was 907.74 on Sep 8, and its lowest 742.12 on Feb 28. The biggest one-day fall was −2.4% on Oct 16 and the biggest rise +4.5% on Nov 1. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 11.2%.

What were the highest and lowest closes of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1978?

Highest: 907.74 on September 8, 1978. Lowest: 742.12 on February 28, 1978. It closed higher on 126 of 252 trading days.

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.