Russell 2000 in 2002

The Russell 2000 fell 21.6% in 2002, from 488.50 at the end of 2001 to 383.09. Its highest close was 522.95 on Apr 16, and its lowest 327.04 on Oct 9. The biggest one-day fall was −4.1% on Jul 23 and the biggest rise +4.9% on Jul 29. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 23.4%.

Change in 2002

−21.6%

488.50 → 383.09

High

522.95

Apr 16

Low

327.04

Oct 9

After inflation

−23.4%

US CPI

Up days

119 of 252

longest run 4 up, 7 down

Below record

-36.8%

at the end of 2002

Russell 2000, daily closes 2002

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 2002

What happened, and how the Russell 2000 moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.

1
Tuesday, April 16 From the data

Back above its pre-bear-market peak of 517.23 (May 22, 2001).
2
Thursday, July 11 From the data

Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 522.95 (April 16, 2002).
3
Sunday, July 21

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

Russell 2000: −1.7% next trading day (Jul 22) · +3.9% a month later
4
Tuesday, July 23 From the data

Biggest one-day fall of the year: −4.1%.
5
Monday, July 29 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +4.9%.
6
Tuesday, July 30

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

Russell 2000: 0.0% that day · −0.8% a month later
7
Wednesday, October 9 From the data

Bear market low: 327.04, 37.5% below the peak.

Biggest days of 2002

Best days		Worst days
Jul 29	+4.9%	Jul 23	−4.1%
Oct 15	+4.0%	Oct 9	−3.9%
Jul 24	+4.0%	Jul 2	−3.3%
Aug 6	+3.7%	Aug 2	−3.3%
Oct 17	+3.3%	Jul 1	−3.2%

Volatility: 25.1% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	483.10	−1.1%	499.30	469.43
Feb	469.36	−2.8%	480.04	458.40
Mar	506.46	+7.9%	506.46	478.34
Apr	510.67	+0.8%	522.95	496.60
May	487.47	−4.5%	513.54	487.47
Jun	462.64	−5.1%	475.04	452.45
Jul	392.42	−15.2%	447.73	363.99
Aug	390.96	−0.4%	409.67	367.12
Sep	362.27	−7.3%	394.16	356.58
Oct	373.50	+3.1%	374.17	327.04
Nov	406.35	+8.8%	410.24	369.14
Dec	383.09	−5.7%	408.54	382.23

Other Markets in 2002

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
Russell 2000	−21.6%	383.09
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2002	−16.8%	8,341.63
S&P 500 in 2002	−23.4%	879.82
Nasdaq Composite in 2002	−31.5%	1,335.51
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

Russell 2000 in 2002: FAQ

How much did the Russell 2000 fall in 2002?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the Russell 2000 in 2002?

Highest: 522.95 on April 16, 2002. Lowest: 327.04 on October 9, 2002. It closed higher on 119 of 252 trading days.

What happened to the Russell 2000 on July 21, 2002?

WorldCom files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after disclosing an accounting fraud. The Russell 2000 fell 1.7% on the next trading day (July 22, 2002), and was +3.9% a month later.

Data: Daily closes since Sep 1987. 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.