Dow Jones in 2018

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 5.6% in 2018, from 24,719 at the end of 2017 to 23,327. Its highest close was 26,828 on Oct 3 — a record that stood until July 3, 2019, and its lowest 21,792 on Dec 24. The biggest one-day fall was −4.6% on Feb 5 and the biggest rise +5.0% on Dec 26. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 7.4%.

Change in 2018

−5.6%

24,719 → 23,327

High

26,828

Oct 3

Low

21,792

Dec 24

After inflation

−7.4%

US CPI

Up days

134 of 251

longest run 8 up, 8 down

Record highs

closing records

Dow Jones, daily closes 2018

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 2018

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

1
Wednesday, January 3 From the data

sets the first of 15 record closing highs this year, at 24,923.
2
Monday, February 5

Dow falls 1,175.21 points (4.6%) to 24,345.75 as stock volatility spikes. Source

Dow Jones: −4.6% that day · −2.5% a month later
3
Friday, July 6

US tariffs on $34 billion of Chinese goods take effect; China retaliates with matching tariffs. Source

Dow Jones: +0.4% that day · +4.5% a month later
4
Wednesday, October 3 From the data

Last record close of the year: 26,828.
5
Wednesday, December 26

Dow gains 1,086.25 points (4.98%) to 22,878.45. Source

Dow Jones: +5.0% that day · +13.5% a month later

Biggest days of 2018

Best days		Worst days
Dec 26	+5.0%	Feb 5	−4.6%
Mar 26	+2.8%	Feb 8	−4.1%
Nov 28	+2.5%	Oct 10	−3.1%
Feb 6	+2.3%	Dec 4	−3.1%
Oct 16	+2.2%	Mar 22	−2.9%

Volatility: 17.9% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	26,149	+5.8%	26,617	24,824
Feb	25,029	−4.3%	26,187	23,860
Mar	24,103	−3.7%	25,336	23,533
Apr	24,163	+0.2%	24,787	23,644
May	24,416	+1.0%	25,013	23,925
Jun	24,271	−0.6%	25,322	24,118
Jul	25,415	+4.7%	25,527	24,175
Aug	25,965	+2.2%	26,125	25,162
Sep	26,458	+1.9%	26,744	25,857
Oct	25,116	−5.1%	26,828	24,443
Nov	25,538	+1.7%	26,191	24,286
Dec	23,327	−8.7%	25,826	21,792

Other Markets in 2018

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
Dow Jones	−5.6%	23,327
S&P 500 in 2018	−6.2%	2,506.85
Nasdaq Composite in 2018	−3.9%	6,635.28
Russell 2000 in 2018	−12.2%	1,348.56
Nikkei 225 in 2018	−12.1%	20,014.77
Gold in 2018	−2.1%	$1,278.30
Silver in 2018	−8.8%	$15.43
WTI crude oil in 2018	−24.8%	$45.41
Brent crude oil in 2018	−19.2%	$53.80
US 10-year Treasury yield in 2018	+0.28 pp	2.69%

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Dow Jones in 2018: FAQ

How much did the Dow Jones Industrial Average fall in 2018?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2018?

Highest: 26,828 on October 3, 2018. Lowest: 21,792 on December 24, 2018. It closed higher on 134 of 251 trading days.

What happened to the Dow Jones Industrial Average on December 26, 2018?

Dow gains 1,086.25 points (4.98%) to 22,878.45. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 5.0% that day, and was +13.5% a month later.

Did the Dow Jones Industrial Average reach a record high in 2018?

Yes — 15 record closing highs, the last at 26,828 on October 3, 2018.

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.