Dow Jones in 2012

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 7.3% in 2012, from 12,218 at the end of 2011 to 13,104. Its highest close was 13,610 on Oct 5, and its lowest 12,101 on Jun 4. The biggest one-day fall was −2.4% on Nov 7 and the biggest rise +2.4% on Jun 6. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 5.4%.

Change in 2012

+7.3%

12,218 → 13,104

High

13,610

Oct 5

Low

12,101

Jun 4

After inflation

+5.4%

US CPI

Up days

123 of 250

longest run 7 up, 6 down

Below record

-7.5%

at the end of 2012

Dow Jones, daily closes 2012

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 2012

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

1
Friday, May 18

Facebook begins trading on Nasdaq after its IPO at $38 per share. Source

Dow Jones: −0.6% that day · +2.4% a month later
2
Wednesday, June 6 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +2.4%.
3
Thursday, July 26

ECB President Mario Draghi says the ECB is ready to do "whatever it takes" to preserve the euro. Source

Dow Jones: +1.7% that day · +3.0% a month later
4
Monday, October 29

US stock markets close for two days (October 29-30) due to Hurricane Sandy, the first two-day weather closure since 1888. Source

Dow Jones: −0.1% next trading day (Oct 31) · −0.7% a month later
5
Wednesday, November 7 From the data

Biggest one-day fall of the year: −2.4%.

Biggest days of 2012

Best days		Worst days
Jun 6	+2.4%	Nov 7	−2.4%
Jun 29	+2.2%	Jun 1	−2.2%
Sep 6	+1.9%	Jun 21	−2.0%
Aug 3	+1.7%	Oct 23	−1.8%
Mar 13	+1.7%	Apr 10	−1.7%

Volatility: 11.8% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	12,633	+3.4%	12,757	12,360
Feb	12,952	+2.5%	13,005	12,705
Mar	13,212	+2.0%	13,253	12,759
Apr	13,214	0.0%	13,264	12,716
May	12,393	−6.2%	13,279	12,369
Jun	12,880	+3.9%	12,880	12,101
Jul	13,009	+1.0%	13,076	12,573
Aug	13,091	+0.6%	13,275	12,879
Sep	13,437	+2.6%	13,597	13,036
Oct	13,096	−2.5%	13,610	13,077
Nov	13,026	−0.5%	13,246	12,542
Dec	13,104	+0.6%	13,351	12,938

Other Markets in 2012

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
Dow Jones	+7.3%	13,104
S&P 500 in 2012	+13.4%	1,426.19
Nasdaq Composite in 2012	+15.9%	3,019.51
Russell 2000 in 2012	+14.6%	849.35
Nikkei 225 in 2012	+22.9%	10,395.18
Gold in 2012	+8.3%	$1,657.50
Silver in 2012	+6.3%	$29.95
WTI crude oil in 2012	−7.1%	$91.83
Brent crude oil in 2012	+2.5%	$110.80
US 10-year Treasury yield in 2012	−0.11 pp	1.78%

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Dow Jones in 2012: FAQ

How much did the Dow Jones Industrial Average rise in 2012?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2012?

Highest: 13,610 on October 5, 2012. Lowest: 12,101 on June 4, 2012. It closed higher on 123 of 250 trading days.

What happened to the Dow Jones Industrial Average on July 26, 2012?

ECB President Mario Draghi says the ECB is ready to do "whatever it takes" to preserve the euro. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.7% that day, and was +3.0% 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.