Nasdaq in 2001

The Nasdaq Composite fell 21.1% in 2001, from 2,470.52 at the end of 2000 to 1,950.40. Its highest close was 2,859.15 on Jan 24, and its lowest 1,423.19 on Sep 21. The biggest one-day fall was −7.2% on Jan 2 and the biggest rise +14.2% on Jan 3. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 22.3%.

Change in 2001

−21.1%

2,470.52 → 1,950.40

High

2,859.15

Jan 24

Low

1,423.19

Sep 21

After inflation

−22.3%

US CPI

Up days

125 of 248

longest run 6 up, 7 down

Below record

-61.4%

at the end of 2001

Nasdaq, daily closes 2001

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 2001

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

1
Tuesday, January 2 From the data

Bear market low: 2,291.86, 46.4% below the peak. Biggest one-day fall of the year: −7.2%.
2
Wednesday, January 3

Fed cuts its federal funds target by 50 basis points to 6.00% in an inter-meeting move. Source

Nasdaq: +14.2% that day · +21.4% a month later
3
Wednesday, February 21 From the data

Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 2,859.15 (January 24, 2001).
4
Wednesday, April 4 From the data

Bear market low: 1,638.80, 42.7% below the peak.
5
Tuesday, August 21 From the data

Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 2,313.85 (May 22, 2001).
6
Tuesday, September 11

Terrorist attacks hit New York and Washington; US stock exchanges close. Source

Nasdaq: −6.8% next trading day (Sep 17) · +0.1% a month later
7
Monday, September 17

US stock markets reopen; the Dow falls 684.81 points (7.1%) after a 50 bp Fed rate cut. Source

Nasdaq: −6.8% that day · +0.1% a month later
8
Friday, September 21 From the data

Bear market low: 1,423.19, 38.5% below the peak.
9
Sunday, December 2

Enron files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Source

Nasdaq: −1.3% next trading day (Dec 3) · +2.5% a month later
10
Tuesday, December 11

China becomes a member of the World Trade Organization. Source

Nasdaq: +0.5% that day · +2.8% a month later

Biggest days of 2001

Best days		Worst days
Jan 3	+14.2%	Jan 2	−7.2%
Apr 5	+8.9%	Sep 17	−6.8%
Apr 18	+8.1%	Mar 12	−6.3%
Apr 10	+6.1%	Jan 5	−6.2%
Oct 3	+5.9%	Apr 3	−6.2%

Volatility: 43.6% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	2,772.73	+12.2%	2,859.15	2,291.86
Feb	2,151.83	−22.4%	2,782.79	2,151.83
Mar	1,840.26	−14.5%	2,223.92	1,820.57
Apr	2,116.24	+15.0%	2,182.14	1,638.80
May	2,110.49	−0.3%	2,313.85	2,081.92
Jun	2,160.54	+2.4%	2,264.00	1,988.63
Jul	2,027.13	−6.2%	2,148.72	1,959.24
Aug	1,805.43	−10.9%	2,087.38	1,791.68
Sep	1,498.80	−17.0%	1,770.78	1,423.19
Oct	1,690.20	+12.8%	1,775.47	1,480.46
Nov	1,930.58	+14.2%	1,941.23	1,745.73
Dec	1,950.40	+1.0%	2,054.27	1,904.90

Other Markets in 2001

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
Nasdaq	−21.1%	1,950.40
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2001	−7.1%	10,021.50
S&P 500 in 2001	−13.0%	1,148.08
Russell 2000 in 2001	+1.0%	488.50
Nikkei 225 in 2001	−23.5%	10,542.62
Gold in 2001	+0.7%	$276.50
Silver in 2001	−1.3%	$4.52
WTI crude oil in 2001	−25.3%	$19.96
Brent crude oil in 2001	−14.3%	$19.35
US 10-year Treasury yield in 2001	−0.05 pp	5.07%

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Nasdaq in 2001: FAQ

How much did the Nasdaq Composite fall in 2001?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the Nasdaq Composite in 2001?

Highest: 2,859.15 on January 24, 2001. Lowest: 1,423.19 on September 21, 2001. It closed higher on 125 of 248 trading days.

What happened to the Nasdaq Composite on January 3, 2001?

Fed cuts its federal funds target by 50 basis points to 6.00% in an inter-meeting move. The Nasdaq Composite rose 14.2% that day, and was +21.4% 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.