Dow Jones in 1985
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 27.7% in 1985, from 1,211.57 at the end of 1984 to 1,546.67. Its highest close was 1,553.10 on Dec 16 — a record that stood until January 7, 1986, and its lowest 1,184.96 on Jan 4. The biggest one-day fall was −1.6% on Aug 6 and the biggest rise +2.8% on Jan 21. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 23.0%.
Dow Jones, daily closes 1985
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1985
What happened, and how the Dow Jones moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Monday, January 21 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +2.8%.
- 2
Tuesday, January 29 From the datasets the first of 36 record closing highs this year, at 1,292.62.
- 3
Tuesday, August 6 From the dataBiggest one-day fall of the year: −1.6%.
- 4
Sunday, September 22G5 finance ministers sign the Plaza Accord to weaken the US dollar. SourceDow Jones: +1.4% next trading day (Sep 23) · +5.1% a month later
- 5
Friday, September 27NYSE closes for Hurricane Gloria. SourceDow Jones: +0.6% next trading day (Sep 30) · +3.0% a month later
- 6
Monday, December 16 From the dataLast record close of the year: 1,553.10.
Biggest days of 1985
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 21 | +2.8% | Aug 6 | −1.6% |
| Nov 11 | +2.0% | May 1 | −1.3% |
| Jun 21 | +1.9% | Jun 13 | −1.2% |
| Dec 4 | +1.7% | Apr 29 | −1.2% |
| Jan 10 | +1.7% | Feb 11 | −1.1% |
Volatility: 10.4% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1,286.77 | +6.2% |
| Feb | 1,284.01 | −0.2% |
| Mar | 1,266.78 | −1.3% |
| Apr | 1,258.06 | −0.7% |
| May | 1,315.41 | +4.6% |
| Jun | 1,335.46 | +1.5% |
| Jul | 1,347.45 | +0.9% |
| Aug | 1,334.01 | −1.0% |
| Sep | 1,328.63 | −0.4% |
| Oct | 1,374.31 | +3.4% |
| Nov | 1,472.13 | +7.1% |
| Dec | 1,546.67 | +5.1% |
Other Markets in 1985
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| Dow Jones | +27.7% | 1,546.67 |
| S&P 500 in 1985 | +26.3% | 211.28 |
| Nasdaq Composite in 1985 | +31.5% | 324.90 |
| Nikkei 225 in 1985 | +13.3% | 13,083.00 |
| Gold in 1985 | +6.0% | $326.80 |
| Silver in 1985 | −7.8% | $5.80 |
| US 10-year Treasury yield in 1985 | −2.55 pp | 9.00% |
Dow Jones in 1985: FAQ
How much did the Dow Jones Industrial Average rise in 1985?
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 27.7% in 1985, from 1,211.57 at the end of 1984 to 1,546.67. Its highest close was 1,553.10 on Dec 16 — a record that stood until January 7, 1986, and its lowest 1,184.96 on Jan 4. The biggest one-day fall was −1.6% on Aug 6 and the biggest rise +2.8% on Jan 21. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 23.0%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1985?
Highest: 1,553.10 on December 16, 1985. Lowest: 1,184.96 on January 4, 1985. It closed higher on 135 of 252 trading days.
What happened to the Dow Jones Industrial Average on September 22, 1985?
G5 finance ministers sign the Plaza Accord to weaken the US dollar. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.4% on the next trading day (September 23, 1985), and was +5.1% a month later.
Did the Dow Jones Industrial Average reach a record high in 1985?
Yes — 36 record closing highs, the last at 1,553.10 on December 16, 1985.
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.