Nasdaq in 1990

The Nasdaq Composite fell 17.8% in 1990, from 454.80 at the end of 1989 to 373.80. Its highest close was 469.60 on Jul 16, and its lowest 325.40 on Oct 16. The biggest one-day fall was −4.2% on Aug 6 and the biggest rise +3.8% on Aug 27. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 22.5%.

Change in 1990

−17.8%

454.80 → 373.80

High

469.60

Jul 16

Low

325.40

Oct 16

After inflation

−22.5%

US CPI

Up days

131 of 253

longest run 11 up, 8 down

Below record

-23.0%

at the end of 1990

Nasdaq, daily closes 1990

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 1990

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

1
Tuesday, February 13

Drexel Burnham Lambert, the leading junk-bond underwriter, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Source

Nasdaq: −0.1% that day · +2.3% a month later
2
Thursday, August 2

Iraq invades Kuwait, beginning the Gulf crisis. Source

Nasdaq: −1.6% that day · −13.1% a month later
3
Monday, August 6 From the data

Biggest one-day fall of the year: −4.2%.
4
Tuesday, August 21 From the data

Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 485.70 (October 9, 1989).
5
Monday, August 27 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +3.8%.
6
Tuesday, October 16 From the data

Bear market low: 325.40, 33.0% below the peak.
7
Thursday, November 29

UN Security Council Resolution 678 sets a 15 January 1991 deadline for Iraq to leave Kuwait. Source

Nasdaq: +0.2% that day · +4.5% a month later

Biggest days of 1990

Best days		Worst days
Aug 27	+3.8%	Aug 6	−4.2%
Oct 1	+3.0%	Aug 23	−3.9%
Nov 12	+2.8%	Sep 24	−2.8%
Oct 18	+2.2%	Aug 3	−2.7%
Aug 24	+2.0%	Oct 9	−2.6%

Volatility: 15.8% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	415.80	−8.6%	460.90	410.70
Feb	425.80	+2.4%	429.60	417.80
Mar	435.50	+2.3%	442.90	427.20
Apr	420.10	−3.5%	437.70	418.00
May	459.00	+9.3%	459.00	421.90
Jun	462.30	+0.7%	468.90	455.40
Jul	438.20	−5.2%	469.60	438.20
Aug	381.20	−13.0%	435.90	360.20
Sep	344.50	−9.6%	382.40	341.20
Oct	329.80	−4.3%	356.40	325.40
Nov	359.10	+8.9%	359.10	330.60
Dec	373.80	+4.1%	373.80	361.30

Other Markets in 1990

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
Nasdaq	−17.8%	373.80
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1990	−4.3%	2,633.66
S&P 500 in 1990	−6.6%	330.22
Russell 2000 in 1990	−21.5%	132.20
Nikkei 225 in 1990	−38.7%	23,849.00
Gold in 1990	−3.1%	$386.20
Silver in 1990	−19.6%	$4.19
WTI crude oil in 1990	+30.4%	$28.48
Brent crude oil in 1990	+34.7%	$28.35
US 10-year Treasury yield in 1990	+0.15 pp	8.08%

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Nasdaq in 1990: FAQ

How much did the Nasdaq Composite fall in 1990?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the Nasdaq Composite in 1990?

Highest: 469.60 on July 16, 1990. Lowest: 325.40 on October 16, 1990. It closed higher on 131 of 253 trading days.

What happened to the Nasdaq Composite on August 2, 1990?

Iraq invades Kuwait, beginning the Gulf crisis. The Nasdaq Composite fell 1.6% that day, and was −13.1% a month later.

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.