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Nasdaq in 1981

The Nasdaq Composite fell 3.2% in 1981, from 202.34 at the end of 1980 to 195.84. Its highest close was 223.47 on May 29 — a record that stood until November 4, 1982, and its lowest 175.03 on Sep 28. The biggest one-day fall was −3.3% on Jan 7 and the biggest rise +2.0% on Sep 29. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 11.1%.

Change in 1981
−3.2%
202.34 → 195.84
High
223.47
May 29
Low
175.03
Sep 28
After inflation
−11.1%
US CPI
Up days
146 of 253
longest run 7 up, 6 down
Record highs
18
closing records

Nasdaq, daily closes 1981

Numbers mark the events below
180199219previous recordJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec1Jan 7: Biggest one-day fall of the year: −3.3%.2Jan 20: Ronald Reagan is inaugurated; Iran releases the 52 US hostages.3Mar 25: sets the first of 18 record closing highs this year, at 209.31.4Mar 30: President Reagan is shot in Washington; the NYSE closes early.5May 29: Last record close of the year: 223.47.6Aug 13: Reagan signs the Economic Recovery Tax Act, cutting the top income tax rate from 70% to 50%.7Sep 25: Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 223.47 (May 29, 1981).8Sep 29: Biggest one-day rise of the year: +2.0%.

Key Events in 1981

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

  1. 1
    Wednesday, January 7 From the data
    Biggest one-day fall of the year: −3.3%.
  2. 2
    Tuesday, January 20
    Ronald Reagan is inaugurated; Iran releases the 52 US hostages. Source
    Nasdaq: −1.4% that day · −3.4% a month later
  3. 3
    Wednesday, March 25 From the data
    sets the first of 18 record closing highs this year, at 209.31.
  4. 4
    Monday, March 30
    President Reagan is shot in Washington; the NYSE closes early. Source
    Nasdaq: +0.1% that day · +4.2% a month later
  5. 5
    Friday, May 29 From the data
    Last record close of the year: 223.47.
  6. 6
    Thursday, August 13
    Reagan signs the Economic Recovery Tax Act, cutting the top income tax rate from 70% to 50%. Source
    Nasdaq: +0.2% that day · −10.4% a month later
  7. 7
    Friday, September 25 From the data
    Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 223.47 (May 29, 1981).
  8. 8
    Tuesday, September 29 From the data
    Biggest one-day rise of the year: +2.0%.

Biggest days of 1981

Best daysWorst days
Sep 29+2.0%Jan 7−3.3%
Oct 2+1.8%Sep 25−2.9%
Oct 7+1.6%Aug 24−2.9%
Sep 10+1.5%Sep 8−2.6%
Mar 12+1.3%Feb 2−2.4%

Volatility: 12.1% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

MonthCloseChangeHighLow
Jan197.81−2.2%204.17195.89
Feb198.01+0.1%198.01192.29
Mar210.18+6.1%210.18198.16
Apr216.74+3.1%219.88211.27
May223.47+3.1%223.47211.55
Jun215.75−3.5%223.02215.75
Jul211.63−1.9%214.63206.16
Aug195.75−7.5%212.36195.75
Sep180.03−8.0%195.39175.03
Oct195.24+8.4%195.24181.09
Nov201.37+3.1%201.37197.16
Dec195.84−2.7%201.13193.91

Other Markets in 1981

Change over the calendar year.

MarketChangeYear-end
Nasdaq−3.2%195.84
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1981−9.2%875.00
S&P 500 in 1981−9.7%122.55
Gold in 1981−32.6%$397.50
Silver in 1981−47.4%$8.15
US 10-year Treasury yield in 1981+1.55 pp13.98%
1980198119821983198419851986198719881989

Nasdaq in 1981: FAQ

How much did the Nasdaq Composite fall in 1981?

The Nasdaq Composite fell 3.2% in 1981, from 202.34 at the end of 1980 to 195.84. Its highest close was 223.47 on May 29 — a record that stood until November 4, 1982, and its lowest 175.03 on Sep 28. The biggest one-day fall was −3.3% on Jan 7 and the biggest rise +2.0% on Sep 29. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 11.1%.

What were the highest and lowest closes of the Nasdaq Composite in 1981?

Highest: 223.47 on May 29, 1981. Lowest: 175.03 on September 28, 1981. It closed higher on 146 of 253 trading days.

What happened to the Nasdaq Composite on January 20, 1981?

Ronald Reagan is inaugurated; Iran releases the 52 US hostages. The Nasdaq Composite fell 1.4% that day, and was −3.4% a month later.

Did the Nasdaq Composite reach a record high in 1981?

Yes — 18 record closing highs, the last at 223.47 on May 29, 1981.

Data: Daily closes since the index began at 100 on 5 Feb 1971. 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.