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Dow Jones in 2020

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 7.2% in 2020, from 28,538 at the end of 2019 to 30,606. Its highest close was 30,606 on Dec 31 — a record that stood until January 6, 2021, and its lowest 18,592 on Mar 23. The biggest one-day fall was −12.9% on Mar 16 and the biggest rise +11.4% on Mar 24. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 5.8%.

Change in 2020
+7.2%
28,538 → 30,606
High
30,606
Dec 31
Low
18,592
Mar 23
After inflation
+5.8%
US CPI
Up days
140 of 253
longest run 7 up, 7 down
Record highs
14
closing records

Dow Jones, daily closes 2020

Numbers mark the events below
19,72124,59929,477previous recordJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec1Jan 2: Dow Jones sets the first of 14 record closing highs this year, at 28,869.2Mar 9: Dow falls 2,013.76 points (7.8%) after Saudi Arabia cuts oil prices following the collapse of OPEC+ talks.3Mar 11: World Health Organization declares COVID-19 a pandemic.4Mar 11: Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 29,551 (February 12, 2020).5Mar 16: Dow falls 2,997.10 points (12.9%), its largest one-day point drop on record; the VIX closes at a record 82.69.6Mar 23: Bear market low: 18,592, 37.1% below the peak.7Mar 24: Biggest one-day rise of the year: +11.4%.8Mar 27: President Trump signs the $2.2 trillion CARES Act economic relief bill.9Nov 9: Pfizer and BioNTech report their COVID-19 vaccine is more than 90% effective; US stock indexes hit record highs.10Nov 16: Back above its pre-bear-market peak of 29,551 (February 12, 2020).11Nov 24: Dow Jones closes above 30,000 for the first time (30,046).12Dec 31: Last record close of the year: 30,606.

Key Events in 2020

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

  1. 1
    Thursday, January 2 From the data
    Dow Jones sets the first of 14 record closing highs this year, at 28,869.
  2. 2
    Monday, March 9
    Dow falls 2,013.76 points (7.8%) after Saudi Arabia cuts oil prices following the collapse of OPEC+ talks. Source
    Dow Jones: −7.8% that day · −12.3% a month later
  3. 3
    Wednesday, March 11
    World Health Organization declares COVID-19 a pandemic. Source
    Dow Jones: −5.9% that day · −6.3% a month later
  4. 4
    Wednesday, March 11 From the data
    Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 29,551 (February 12, 2020).
  5. 5
    Monday, March 16
    Dow falls 2,997.10 points (12.9%), its largest one-day point drop on record; the VIX closes at a record 82.69. Source
    Dow Jones: −12.9% that day · +3.3% a month later
  6. 6
    Monday, March 23 From the data
    Bear market low: 18,592, 37.1% below the peak.
  7. 7
    Tuesday, March 24 From the data
    Biggest one-day rise of the year: +11.4%.
  8. 8
    Friday, March 27
    President Trump signs the $2.2 trillion CARES Act economic relief bill. Source
    Dow Jones: −4.1% that day · +7.0% a month later
  9. 9
    Monday, November 9
    Pfizer and BioNTech report their COVID-19 vaccine is more than 90% effective; US stock indexes hit record highs. Source
    Dow Jones: +2.9% that day · +6.5% a month later
  10. 10
    Monday, November 16 From the data
    Back above its pre-bear-market peak of 29,551 (February 12, 2020).
  11. 11
    Tuesday, November 24 From the data
    Dow Jones closes above 30,000 for the first time (30,046).
  12. 12
    Thursday, December 31 From the data
    Last record close of the year: 30,606.

Biggest days of 2020

Best daysWorst days
Mar 24+11.4%Mar 16−12.9%
Mar 13+9.4%Mar 12−10.0%
Apr 6+7.7%Mar 9−7.8%
Mar 26+6.4%Jun 11−6.9%
Mar 17+5.2%Mar 18−6.3%

Volatility: 36.8% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

MonthCloseChangeHighLow
Jan28,256−1.0%29,34828,256
Feb25,409−10.1%29,55125,409
Mar21,917−13.7%27,09118,592
Apr24,346+11.1%24,63420,944
May25,383+4.3%25,54823,248
Jun25,813+1.7%27,57225,016
Jul26,428+2.4%27,00625,706
Aug28,430+7.6%28,65426,664
Sep27,782−2.3%29,10126,763
Oct26,502−4.6%28,83826,502
Nov29,639+11.8%30,04626,925
Dec30,606+3.3%30,60629,824

Other Markets in 2020

Change over the calendar year.

MarketChangeYear-end
Dow Jones+7.2%30,606
S&P 500 in 2020+16.3%3,756.07
Nasdaq Composite in 2020+43.6%12,888.28
Russell 2000 in 2020+18.4%1,974.86
Nikkei 225 in 2020+16.0%27,444.17
Gold in 2020+24.7%$1,895.10
Silver in 2020+47.7%$26.33
WTI crude oil in 2020−20.5%$48.52
Brent crude oil in 2020−21.5%$51.80
US 10-year Treasury yield in 2020−1.00 pp0.92%
2020202120222023202420252026

Dow Jones in 2020: FAQ

How much did the Dow Jones Industrial Average rise in 2020?

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 7.2% in 2020, from 28,538 at the end of 2019 to 30,606. Its highest close was 30,606 on Dec 31 — a record that stood until January 6, 2021, and its lowest 18,592 on Mar 23. The biggest one-day fall was −12.9% on Mar 16 and the biggest rise +11.4% on Mar 24. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 5.8%.

What were the highest and lowest closes of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2020?

Highest: 30,606 on December 31, 2020. Lowest: 18,592 on March 23, 2020. It closed higher on 140 of 253 trading days.

What happened to the Dow Jones Industrial Average on March 16, 2020?

Dow falls 2,997.10 points (12.9%), its largest one-day point drop on record; the VIX closes at a record 82.69. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 12.9% that day, and was +3.3% a month later.

Did the Dow Jones Industrial Average reach a record high in 2020?

Yes — 14 record closing highs, the last at 30,606 on December 31, 2020.

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.