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Oil Price (WTI) in 2010

The oil price (WTI) rose 15.1% in 2010, from $79.39 at the end of 2009 to $91.38. Its highest close was $91.48 on Dec 28, and its lowest $64.78 on May 25. The biggest one-day fall was −5.1% on May 25 and the biggest rise +10.4% on May 26. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 13.4%.

Change in 2010
+15.1%
$79.39 → $91.38
High
$91.48
Dec 28
Low
$64.78
May 25
After inflation
+13.4%
US CPI
Up days
127 of 252
longest run 7 up, 6 down
Below record
-37.1%
at the end of 2010

Oil Price (WTI), daily closes 2010

Numbers mark the events below
$67$78$89JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec1Apr 20: Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explodes in the Gulf of Mexico, causing a major oil spill.2May 20: Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of $86.54 (April 6, 2010).3May 25: Bear market low: $64.78, 25.1% below the peak. Biggest one-day fall of the year: −5.1%.4May 26: Biggest one-day rise of the year: +10.4%.5Jul 21: President Obama signs the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act into law.6Nov 5: Back above its pre-bear-market peak of $86.54 (April 6, 2010).

Key Events in 2010

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

  1. 1
    Tuesday, April 20
    Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explodes in the Gulf of Mexico, causing a major oil spill. Source
    WTI oil: +1.8% that day · −14.9% a month later
  2. 2
    Thursday, May 20 From the data
    Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of $86.54 (April 6, 2010).
  3. 3
    Tuesday, May 25 From the data
    Bear market low: $64.78, 25.1% below the peak. Biggest one-day fall of the year: −5.1%.
  4. 4
    Wednesday, May 26 From the data
    Biggest one-day rise of the year: +10.4%.
  5. 5
    Wednesday, July 21
    President Obama signs the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act into law. Source
    WTI oil: −1.4% that day · −2.5% a month later
  6. 6
    Friday, November 5 From the data
    Back above its pre-bear-market peak of $86.54 (April 6, 2010).

Biggest days of 2010

Best daysWorst days
May 26+10.4%May 25−5.1%
May 27+4.3%Feb 4−5.0%
Feb 16+3.9%Jun 4−4.3%
Feb 2+3.8%Oct 19−4.2%
Jul 22+3.6%May 4−4.0%

Volatility: 29.6% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

MonthCloseChangeHighLow
Jan$72.85−8.2%$83.12$72.85
Feb$79.72+9.4%$80.04$71.15
Mar$83.45+4.7%$83.45$78.71
Apr$86.07+3.1%$86.54$81.52
May$74.00−14.0%$86.19$64.78
Jun$75.59+2.1%$78.45$71.43
Jul$78.85+4.3%$79.01$71.96
Aug$71.93−8.8%$82.52$71.24
Sep$79.95+11.1%$79.95$72.96
Oct$81.45+1.9%$83.21$79.57
Nov$84.12+3.3%$87.77$80.43
Dec$91.38+8.6%$91.48$86.75

Other Markets in 2010

Change over the calendar year.

MarketChangeYear-end
Oil Price (WTI)+15.1%$91.38
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2010+11.0%11,577.51
S&P 500 in 2010+12.8%1,257.64
Nasdaq Composite in 2010+16.9%2,652.87
Russell 2000 in 2010+25.3%783.65
Nikkei 225 in 2010−3.0%10,228.92
Gold in 2010+29.2%$1,405.50
Silver in 2010+80.3%$30.63
Brent crude oil in 2010+19.7%$93.23
US 10-year Treasury yield in 2010−0.55 pp3.30%
2010201120122013201420152016201720182019

Oil Price (WTI) in 2010: FAQ

How much did the oil price (WTI) rise in 2010?

The oil price (WTI) rose 15.1% in 2010, from $79.39 at the end of 2009 to $91.38. Its highest close was $91.48 on Dec 28, and its lowest $64.78 on May 25. The biggest one-day fall was −5.1% on May 25 and the biggest rise +10.4% on May 26. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 13.4%.

What were the highest and lowest closes of the oil price (WTI) in 2010?

Highest: $91.48 on December 28, 2010. Lowest: $64.78 on May 25, 2010. It closed higher on 127 of 252 trading days.

What happened to the oil price (WTI) on April 20, 2010?

Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explodes in the Gulf of Mexico, causing a major oil spill. The oil price (WTI) rose 1.8% that day, and was −14.9% a month later.

Data: WTI Cushing spot price (EIA via FRED) from 1986, NYMEX front-month futures closes after that. 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.