Nasdaq in 2002

The Nasdaq Composite fell 31.5% in 2002, from 1,950.40 at the end of 2001 to 1,335.51. Its highest close was 2,059.38 on Jan 4, and its lowest 1,114.11 on Oct 9. The biggest one-day fall was −4.2% on Jul 23 and the biggest rise +7.8% on May 8. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 33.1%.

Change in 2002

−31.5%

1,950.40 → 1,335.51

High

2,059.38

Jan 4

Low

1,114.11

Oct 9

After inflation

−33.1%

US CPI

Up days

117 of 252

longest run 6 up, 6 down

Below record

-73.5%

at the end of 2002

Nasdaq, daily closes 2002

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 2002

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

1
Thursday, May 2 From the data

Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 2,059.38 (January 4, 2002).
2
Wednesday, May 8 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +7.8%.
3
Sunday, July 21

WorldCom files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after disclosing an accounting fraud. Source

Nasdaq: −2.8% next trading day (Jul 22) · +5.7% a month later
4
Tuesday, July 23 From the data

Biggest one-day fall of the year: −4.2%.
5
Tuesday, July 30

President Bush signs the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on corporate accounting and governance. Source

Nasdaq: +0.7% that day · +0.9% a month later
6
Wednesday, October 9 From the data

Bear market low: 1,114.11, 45.9% below the peak.

Biggest days of 2002

Best days		Worst days
May 8	+7.8%	Jul 23	−4.2%
Jul 29	+5.8%	Jul 1	−4.1%
Aug 14	+5.1%	Oct 16	−3.9%
Oct 15	+5.1%	Dec 9	−3.9%
Jul 24	+5.0%	Jul 25	−3.9%

Volatility: 34.5% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	1,934.03	−0.8%	2,059.38	1,882.53
Feb	1,731.49	−10.5%	1,911.24	1,716.24
Mar	1,845.35	+6.6%	1,929.67	1,802.74
Apr	1,688.23	−8.5%	1,862.62	1,656.93
May	1,615.73	−4.3%	1,741.39	1,573.82
Jun	1,463.21	−9.4%	1,595.26	1,423.99
Jul	1,328.26	−9.2%	1,448.36	1,229.05
Aug	1,314.85	−1.0%	1,422.95	1,206.01
Sep	1,172.06	−10.9%	1,320.09	1,172.06
Oct	1,329.75	+13.5%	1,331.13	1,114.11
Nov	1,478.78	+11.2%	1,487.94	1,319.19
Dec	1,335.51	−9.7%	1,484.78	1,335.51

Other Markets in 2002

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
Nasdaq	−31.5%	1,335.51
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2002	−16.8%	8,341.63
S&P 500 in 2002	−23.4%	879.82
Russell 2000 in 2002	−21.6%	383.09
Nikkei 225 in 2002	−18.6%	8,578.95
Gold in 2002	+25.6%	$347.20
Silver in 2002	+3.3%	$4.67
WTI crude oil in 2002	+56.4%	$31.21
Brent crude oil in 2002	+55.7%	$30.12
US 10-year Treasury yield in 2002	−1.24 pp	3.83%

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Nasdaq in 2002: FAQ

How much did the Nasdaq Composite fall in 2002?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the Nasdaq Composite in 2002?

Highest: 2,059.38 on January 4, 2002. Lowest: 1,114.11 on October 9, 2002. It closed higher on 117 of 252 trading days.

What happened to the Nasdaq Composite on July 21, 2002?

WorldCom files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after disclosing an accounting fraud. The Nasdaq Composite fell 2.8% on the next trading day (July 22, 2002), and was +5.7% 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.