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%.
Dow Jones, daily closes 1978
Numbers mark the events belowKey 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
Tuesday, February 28 From the dataBear market low: 742.12, 26.9% below the peak.
- 2
Monday, October 16 From the dataBiggest one-day fall of the year: −2.4%.
- 3
Wednesday, November 1 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +4.5%.
Biggest days of 1978
| Best days | Worst 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
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 769.92 | −7.4% |
| Feb | 742.12 | −3.6% |
| Mar | 757.36 | +2.1% |
| Apr | 837.32 | +10.6% |
| May | 840.61 | +0.4% |
| Jun | 818.95 | −2.6% |
| Jul | 862.27 | +5.3% |
| Aug | 876.82 | +1.7% |
| Sep | 865.82 | −1.3% |
| Oct | 792.45 | −8.5% |
| Nov | 799.03 | +0.8% |
| Dec | 805.01 | +0.7% |
Other Markets in 1978
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-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 pp | 9.15% |
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.