Dow Jones in 2011

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 5.5% in 2011, from 11,578 at the end of 2010 to 12,218. Its highest close was 12,811 on Apr 29, and its lowest 10,655 on Oct 3. The biggest one-day fall was −5.5% on Aug 8 and the biggest rise +4.2% on Nov 30. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 2.5%.

Change in 2011

+5.5%

11,578 → 12,218

High

12,811

Apr 29

Low

10,655

Oct 3

After inflation

+2.5%

US CPI

Up days

139 of 252

longest run 8 up, 8 down

Below record

-13.7%

at the end of 2011

Dow Jones, daily closes 2011

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 2011

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

1
Friday, March 11

Tohoku earthquake and tsunami strike northeastern Japan. Source

Dow Jones: +0.5% that day · +3.3% a month later
2
Friday, August 5

Standard & Poor's downgrades the US long-term credit rating from AAA to AA+. Source

Dow Jones: +0.5% that day · −1.3% a month later
3
Monday, August 8

On the first trading day after the S&P downgrade, the major US stock indexes fall 5% to 7%. Source

Dow Jones: −5.5% that day · −2.7% a month later
4
Monday, October 31

Futures broker MF Global files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Source

Dow Jones: −2.3% that day · −5.5% a month later
5
Wednesday, November 30 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +4.2%.

Biggest days of 2011

Best days		Worst days
Nov 30	+4.2%	Aug 8	−5.5%
Aug 9	+4.0%	Aug 10	−4.6%
Aug 11	+3.9%	Aug 4	−4.3%
Oct 10	+3.0%	Aug 18	−3.7%
Aug 23	+3.0%	Sep 22	−3.5%

Volatility: 21.0% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	11,892	+2.7%	11,990	11,637
Feb	12,226	+2.8%	12,391	12,040
Mar	12,320	+0.8%	12,351	11,613
Apr	12,811	+4.0%	12,811	12,202
May	12,570	−1.9%	12,808	12,356
Jun	12,414	−1.2%	12,414	11,897
Jul	12,143	−2.2%	12,724	12,143
Aug	11,614	−4.4%	12,132	10,720
Sep	10,913	−6.0%	11,509	10,734
Oct	11,955	+9.5%	12,231	10,655
Nov	12,046	+0.8%	12,170	11,232
Dec	12,218	+1.4%	12,294	11,766

Other Markets in 2011

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
Dow Jones	+5.5%	12,218
S&P 500 in 2011	0.0%	1,257.60
Nasdaq Composite in 2011	−1.8%	2,605.15
Russell 2000 in 2011	−5.5%	740.92
Nikkei 225 in 2011	−17.3%	8,455.35
Gold in 2011	+8.9%	$1,531.00
Silver in 2011	−8.0%	$28.18
WTI crude oil in 2011	+8.2%	$98.83
Brent crude oil in 2011	+15.9%	$108.09
US 10-year Treasury yield in 2011	−1.41 pp	1.89%

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Dow Jones in 2011: FAQ

How much did the Dow Jones Industrial Average rise in 2011?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2011?

Highest: 12,811 on April 29, 2011. Lowest: 10,655 on October 3, 2011. It closed higher on 139 of 252 trading days.

What happened to the Dow Jones Industrial Average on August 8, 2011?

On the first trading day after the S&P downgrade, the major US stock indexes fall 5% to 7%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 5.5% that day, and was −2.7% 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.