Dow Jones in 2021

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 18.7% in 2021, from 30,606 at the end of 2020 to 36,338. Its highest close was 36,489 on Dec 29 — a record that stood until January 3, 2022, and its lowest 29,983 on Jan 29. The biggest one-day fall was −2.5% on Nov 26 and the biggest rise +1.9% on Mar 1. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 10.9%.

Change in 2021

+18.7%

30,606 → 36,338

High

36,489

Dec 29

Low

29,983

Jan 29

After inflation

+10.9%

US CPI

Up days

140 of 252

longest run 7 up, 5 down

Record highs

closing records

Dow Jones, daily closes 2021

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 2021

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

1
Wednesday, January 6 From the data

Dow Jones sets the first of 45 record closing highs this year, at 30,829.
2
Thursday, January 28

Robinhood halts purchases of GameStop and other heavily traded stocks during the short squeeze. Source

Dow Jones: +1.0% that day · +2.1% a month later
3
Monday, March 1 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +1.9%.
4
Thursday, March 11

President Biden signs the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act. Source

Dow Jones: +0.6% that day · +4.7% a month later
5
Wednesday, April 14

Coinbase goes public through a direct listing on Nasdaq. Source

Dow Jones: +0.2% that day · −0.3% a month later
6
Friday, November 26 From the data

Biggest one-day fall of the year: −2.5%.
7
Wednesday, December 29 From the data

Last record close of the year: 36,489.

Biggest days of 2021

Best days		Worst days
Mar 1	+1.9%	Nov 26	−2.5%
Dec 6	+1.9%	Jul 19	−2.1%
Mar 5	+1.9%	Jan 27	−2.0%
Dec 2	+1.8%	Jan 29	−2.0%
Jun 21	+1.8%	May 12	−2.0%

Volatility: 12.4% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	29,983	−2.0%	31,188	29,983
Feb	30,932	+3.2%	31,962	30,212
Mar	32,982	+6.6%	33,171	30,924
Apr	33,875	+2.7%	34,201	33,153
May	34,529	+1.9%	34,778	33,588
Jun	34,503	−0.1%	34,756	33,290
Jul	34,935	+1.3%	35,144	33,962
Aug	35,361	+1.2%	35,625	34,793
Sep	33,844	−4.3%	35,444	33,844
Oct	35,820	+5.8%	35,820	34,003
Nov	34,484	−3.7%	36,432	34,484
Dec	36,338	+5.4%	36,489	34,022

Other Markets in 2021

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
Dow Jones	+18.7%	36,338
S&P 500 in 2021	+26.9%	4,766.18
Nasdaq Composite in 2021	+21.4%	15,644.97
Russell 2000 in 2021	+13.7%	2,245.31
Nikkei 225 in 2021	+4.9%	28,791.71
Gold in 2021	−3.5%	$1,828.60
Silver in 2021	−11.4%	$23.33
WTI crude oil in 2021	+55.0%	$75.21
Brent crude oil in 2021	+50.2%	$77.78
US 10-year Treasury yield in 2021	+0.60 pp	1.51%

2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

Dow Jones in 2021: FAQ

How much did the Dow Jones Industrial Average rise in 2021?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2021?

Highest: 36,489 on December 29, 2021. Lowest: 29,983 on January 29, 2021. It closed higher on 140 of 252 trading days.

What happened to the Dow Jones Industrial Average on January 28, 2021?

Robinhood halts purchases of GameStop and other heavily traded stocks during the short squeeze. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.0% that day, and was +2.1% a month later.

Did the Dow Jones Industrial Average reach a record high in 2021?

Yes — 45 record closing highs, the last at 36,489 on December 29, 2021.

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.