Nasdaq in 1987

The Nasdaq Composite fell 5.2% in 1987, from 348.80 at the end of 1986 to 330.50. Its highest close was 455.80 on Aug 27 — a record that stood until August 3, 1989, and its lowest 291.90 on Oct 28. The biggest one-day fall was −11.3% on Oct 19 and the biggest rise +7.4% on Oct 21. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 9.3%.

Change in 1987

−5.2%

348.80 → 330.50

High

455.80

Aug 27

Low

291.90

Oct 28

After inflation

−9.3%

US CPI

Up days

145 of 253

longest run 10 up, 7 down

Record highs

closing records

Nasdaq, daily closes 1987

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 1987

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

1
Friday, February 13 From the data

Nasdaq sets the first of 24 record closing highs this year, at 412.50.
2
Tuesday, August 25

Dow reaches its pre-crash all-time high of about 2,722. Source

Nasdaq: +0.3% that day · −2.9% a month later
3
Thursday, August 27 From the data

Last record close of the year: 455.80.
4
Monday, October 19

Black Monday: Dow falls 508 points (22.6%), its largest one-day percentage drop. Source

Nasdaq: −11.3% that day · −20.6% a month later
5
Monday, October 19 From the data

Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 455.80 (August 27, 1987).
6
Tuesday, October 20

Fed affirms its readiness to serve as a source of liquidity to the financial system. Source

Nasdaq: −9.0% that day · −12.0% a month later
7
Wednesday, October 21 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +7.4%.
8
Wednesday, October 28 From the data

Bear market low: 291.90, 36.0% below the peak.

Biggest days of 1987

Best days		Worst days
Oct 21	+7.4%	Oct 19	−11.3%
Oct 30	+5.3%	Oct 26	−9.0%
Oct 29	+5.2%	Oct 20	−9.0%
Dec 18	+2.3%	Oct 22	−4.5%
Jan 5	+2.3%	Oct 16	−3.8%

Volatility: 24.9% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	392.10	+12.4%	393.20	353.20
Feb	425.00	+8.4%	425.00	397.20
Mar	430.10	+1.2%	439.60	423.60
Apr	417.80	−2.9%	437.60	409.70
May	416.50	−0.3%	423.20	406.60
Jun	424.70	+2.0%	429.30	413.60
Jul	434.90	+2.4%	434.90	424.50
Aug	455.00	+4.6%	455.80	432.80
Sep	444.30	−2.4%	452.50	436.00
Oct	323.30	−27.2%	453.60	291.90
Nov	305.20	−5.6%	328.30	305.20
Dec	330.50	+8.3%	333.20	292.90

Other Markets in 1987

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
Nasdaq	−5.2%	330.50
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1987	+2.3%	1,938.83
S&P 500 in 1987	+2.0%	247.08
Nikkei 225 in 1987	+14.6%	21,564.00
Gold in 1987	+24.5%	$484.10
Silver in 1987	+26.9%	$6.70
WTI crude oil in 1987	−6.6%	$16.74
US 10-year Treasury yield in 1987	+1.60 pp	8.83%

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989

Nasdaq in 1987: FAQ

How much did the Nasdaq Composite fall in 1987?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the Nasdaq Composite in 1987?

Highest: 455.80 on August 27, 1987. Lowest: 291.90 on October 28, 1987. It closed higher on 145 of 253 trading days.

What happened to the Nasdaq Composite on October 19, 1987?

Black Monday: Dow falls 508 points (22.6%), its largest one-day percentage drop. The Nasdaq Composite fell 11.3% that day, and was −20.6% a month later.

Did the Nasdaq Composite reach a record high in 1987?

Yes — 24 record closing highs, the last at 455.80 on August 27, 1987.

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.