Dow Jones in 2002

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 16.8% in 2002, from 10,022 at the end of 2001 to 8,341.63. Its highest close was 10,635 on Mar 19, and its lowest 7,286.27 on Oct 9. The biggest one-day fall was −4.6% on Jul 19 and the biggest rise +6.3% on Jul 24. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 18.7%.

Change in 2002

−16.8%

10,022 → 8,341.63

High

10,635

Mar 19

Low

7,286.27

Oct 9

After inflation

−18.7%

US CPI

Up days

113 of 252

longest run 4 up, 7 down

Below record

-28.8%

at the end of 2002

Dow Jones, daily closes 2002

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 2002

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

1
Tuesday, July 16 From the data

Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 10,635 (March 19, 2002).
2
Friday, July 19 From the data

Biggest one-day fall of the year: −4.6%.
3
Sunday, July 21

WorldCom files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after disclosing an accounting fraud. Source

Dow Jones: −2.9% next trading day (Jul 22) · +12.1% a month later
4
Wednesday, July 24 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +6.3%.
5
Tuesday, July 30

President Bush signs the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on corporate accounting and governance. Source

Dow Jones: −0.4% that day · +1.3% a month later
6
Wednesday, October 9 From the data

Bear market low: 7,286.27, 31.5% below the peak.

Biggest days of 2002

Best days		Worst days
Jul 24	+6.3%	Jul 19	−4.6%
Jul 29	+5.4%	Sep 3	−4.1%
Oct 15	+4.8%	Sep 27	−3.7%
Oct 1	+4.6%	Aug 5	−3.2%
Oct 11	+4.2%	Jul 10	−3.1%

Volatility: 25.5% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	9,920.00	−1.0%	10,260	9,618.24
Feb	10,106	+1.9%	10,146	9,625.44
Mar	10,404	+2.9%	10,635	10,282
Apr	9,946.22	−4.4%	10,382	9,819.87
May	9,925.25	−0.2%	10,353	9,808.04
Jun	9,243.26	−6.9%	9,796.80	9,120.11
Jul	8,736.59	−5.5%	9,379.50	7,702.34
Aug	8,663.50	−0.8%	9,053.64	8,043.63
Sep	7,591.93	−12.4%	8,602.61	7,591.93
Oct	8,397.03	+10.6%	8,538.24	7,286.27
Nov	8,896.09	+5.9%	8,931.68	8,358.95
Dec	8,341.63	−6.2%	8,862.57	8,303.78

Other Markets in 2002

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
Dow Jones	−16.8%	8,341.63
S&P 500 in 2002	−23.4%	879.82
Nasdaq Composite in 2002	−31.5%	1,335.51
Russell 2000 in 2002	−21.6%	383.09
Nikkei 225 in 2002	−18.6%	8,578.95
Gold in 2002	+25.6%	$347.20
Silver in 2002	+3.3%	$4.67
WTI crude oil in 2002	+56.4%	$31.21
Brent crude oil in 2002	+55.7%	$30.12
US 10-year Treasury yield in 2002	−1.24 pp	3.83%

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Dow Jones in 2002: FAQ

How much did the Dow Jones Industrial Average fall in 2002?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2002?

Highest: 10,635 on March 19, 2002. Lowest: 7,286.27 on October 9, 2002. It closed higher on 113 of 252 trading days.

What happened to the Dow Jones Industrial Average on July 21, 2002?

WorldCom files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after disclosing an accounting fraud. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2.9% on the next trading day (July 22, 2002), and was +12.1% 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.