Dow Jones in 1987

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.3% in 1987, from 1,895.95 at the end of 1986 to 1,938.83. Its highest close was 2,722.42 on Aug 25 — a record that stood until August 24, 1989, and its lowest 1,738.74 on Oct 19. The biggest one-day fall was −22.6% on Oct 19 and the biggest rise +10.1% on Oct 21. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 2.1%.

Change in 1987

+2.3%

1,895.95 → 1,938.83

High

2,722.42

Aug 25

Low

1,738.74

Oct 19

After inflation

−2.1%

US CPI

Up days

143 of 253

longest run 13 up, 5 down

Record highs

closing records

Dow Jones, daily closes 1987

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 1987

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

1
Monday, January 5 From the data

sets the first of 55 record closing highs this year, at 1,971.32.
2
Thursday, January 8 From the data

closes above 2,000 for the first time (2,002.25).
3
Tuesday, August 25

Dow reaches its pre-crash all-time high of about 2,722. Source

Dow Jones: +0.9% that day · −4.1% a month later
4
Monday, October 19

Black Monday: Dow falls 508 points (22.6%), its largest one-day percentage drop. Source

Dow Jones: −22.6% that day · −13.2% a month later
5
Monday, October 19 From the data

Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 2,722.42 (August 25, 1987). Bear market low: 1,738.74, 36.1% below the peak.
6
Tuesday, October 20

Fed affirms its readiness to serve as a source of liquidity to the financial system. Source

Dow Jones: +5.9% that day · +10.6% a month later
7
Wednesday, October 21 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +10.1%.

Biggest days of 1987

Best days		Worst days
Oct 21	+10.1%	Oct 19	−22.6%
Oct 20	+5.9%	Oct 26	−8.0%
Oct 29	+5.0%	Oct 16	−4.6%
Dec 14	+3.5%	Nov 30	−4.0%
Nov 12	+3.2%	Dec 3	−3.9%

Volatility: 34.5% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	2,158.04	+13.8%	2,163.39	1,927.31
Feb	2,223.99	+3.1%	2,244.09	2,158.04
Mar	2,304.69	+3.6%	2,372.59	2,220.47
Apr	2,286.36	−0.8%	2,405.54	2,230.54
May	2,291.57	+0.2%	2,342.19	2,215.87
Jun	2,418.53	+5.5%	2,451.05	2,278.22
Jul	2,572.07	+6.3%	2,572.07	2,409.76
Aug	2,662.95	+3.5%	2,722.42	2,546.72
Sep	2,596.28	−2.5%	2,613.04	2,492.82
Oct	1,993.53	−23.2%	2,640.99	1,738.74
Nov	1,833.55	−8.0%	2,014.09	1,833.55
Dec	1,938.83	+5.7%	2,005.64	1,766.74

Other Markets in 1987

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
Dow Jones	+2.3%	1,938.83
S&P 500 in 1987	+2.0%	247.08
Nasdaq Composite in 1987	−5.2%	330.50
Nikkei 225 in 1987	+14.6%	21,564.00
Gold in 1987	+24.5%	$484.10
Silver in 1987	+26.9%	$6.70
WTI crude oil in 1987	−6.6%	$16.74
US 10-year Treasury yield in 1987	+1.60 pp	8.83%

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989

Dow Jones in 1987: FAQ

How much did the Dow Jones Industrial Average rise in 1987?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1987?

Highest: 2,722.42 on August 25, 1987. Lowest: 1,738.74 on October 19, 1987. It closed higher on 143 of 253 trading days.

What happened to the Dow Jones Industrial Average on October 19, 1987?

Black Monday: Dow falls 508 points (22.6%), its largest one-day percentage drop. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 22.6% that day, and was −13.2% a month later.

Did the Dow Jones Industrial Average reach a record high in 1987?

Yes — 55 record closing highs, the last at 2,722.42 on August 25, 1987.

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.