Nasdaq in 1982

The Nasdaq Composite rose 18.7% in 1982, from 195.84 at the end of 1981 to 232.41. Its highest close was 240.70 on Dec 8 — a record that stood until January 10, 1983, and its lowest 159.14 on Aug 13. The biggest one-day fall was −2.4% on Dec 15 and the biggest rise +2.4% on Nov 3. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 14.3%.

Change in 1982

+18.7%

195.84 → 232.41

High

240.70

Dec 8

Low

159.14

Aug 13

After inflation

+14.3%

US CPI

Up days

130 of 253

longest run 7 up, 9 down

Record highs

closing records

Nasdaq, daily closes 1982

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 1982

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

1
Wednesday, April 21

S&P 500 index futures begin trading on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Source

Nasdaq: +0.2% that day · +1.1% a month later
2
Monday, July 5

Penn Square Bank in Oklahoma fails. Source

Nasdaq: −0.5% next trading day (Jul 6) · −1.2% a month later
3
Thursday, August 12

Dow bottoms at 776.92, the start of the 1980s bull market. Source

Nasdaq: −0.6% that day · +13.5% a month later
4
Friday, August 13

Mexico encounters serious problems servicing its foreign debt, marking the onset of the debt crisis. Source

Nasdaq: −0.4% that day · +14.4% a month later
5
Friday, August 13 From the data

Bear market low: 159.14, 28.8% below the peak.
6
Tuesday, August 17

A forecast by Salomon economist Henry Kaufman sparks a large rally in stocks and bonds. Source

Nasdaq: +1.6% that day · +16.7% a month later
7
Wednesday, November 3 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +2.4%.
8
Thursday, November 4 From the data

sets the first of 12 record closing highs this year, at 225.01. Back above its pre-bear-market peak of 223.47 (May 29, 1981).
9
Wednesday, December 8 From the data

Last record close of the year: 240.70.
10
Wednesday, December 15 From the data

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

Biggest days of 1982

Best days		Worst days
Nov 3	+2.4%	Dec 15	−2.4%
Oct 7	+1.9%	Oct 25	−2.0%
Aug 26	+1.9%	Nov 16	−1.9%
Aug 23	+1.7%	Feb 8	−1.9%
Oct 11	+1.7%	Jan 11	−1.7%

Volatility: 13.0% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	188.39	−3.8%	195.53	183.41
Feb	179.43	−4.8%	188.21	177.49
Mar	175.65	−2.1%	180.14	167.92
Apr	184.70	+5.2%	185.80	177.31
May	178.54	−3.3%	188.22	178.37
Jun	171.30	−4.1%	177.82	168.00
Jul	167.35	−2.3%	172.11	166.80
Aug	177.71	+6.2%	178.17	159.14
Sep	187.65	+5.6%	189.04	177.30
Oct	212.63	+13.3%	215.29	188.02
Nov	232.31	+9.3%	232.61	214.52
Dec	232.41	0.0%	240.70	225.60

Other Markets in 1982

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
Nasdaq	+18.7%	232.41
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1982	+19.6%	1,046.54
S&P 500 in 1982	+14.8%	140.64
Gold in 1982	+14.9%	$456.90
Silver in 1982	+33.3%	$10.87
US 10-year Treasury yield in 1982	−3.62 pp	10.36%

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989

Nasdaq in 1982: FAQ

How much did the Nasdaq Composite rise in 1982?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the Nasdaq Composite in 1982?

Highest: 240.70 on December 8, 1982. Lowest: 159.14 on August 13, 1982. It closed higher on 130 of 253 trading days.

What happened to the Nasdaq Composite on August 17, 1982?

A forecast by Salomon economist Henry Kaufman sparks a large rally in stocks and bonds. The Nasdaq Composite rose 1.6% that day, and was +16.7% a month later.

Did the Nasdaq Composite reach a record high in 1982?

Yes — 12 record closing highs, the last at 240.70 on December 8, 1982.

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.