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Russell 2000 in 2020

The Russell 2000 rose 18.4% in 2020, from 1,668.47 at the end of 2019 to 1,974.86. Its highest close was 2,007.10 on Dec 23 — a record that stood until January 6, 2021, and its lowest 991.16 on Mar 18. The biggest one-day fall was −14.3% on Mar 16 and the biggest rise +9.4% on Mar 24. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 16.8%.

Change in 2020
+18.4%
1,668.47 → 1,974.86
High
2,007.10
Dec 23
Low
991.16
Mar 18
After inflation
+16.8%
US CPI
Up days
141 of 253
longest run 6 up, 6 down
Record highs
13
closing records

Russell 2000, daily closes 2020

Numbers mark the events below
1,0871,4991,912previous recordJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec1Mar 9: Dow falls 2,013.76 points (7.8%) after Saudi Arabia cuts oil prices following the collapse of OPEC+ talks.2Mar 9: Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 1,705.22 (January 16, 2020).3Mar 11: World Health Organization declares COVID-19 a pandemic.4Mar 16: Dow falls 2,997.10 points (12.9%), its largest one-day point drop on record; the VIX closes at a record 82.69.5Mar 18: Bear market low: 991.16, 41.9% below the peak.6Mar 24: Biggest one-day rise of the year: +9.4%.7Mar 27: President Trump signs the $2.2 trillion CARES Act economic relief bill.8Nov 9: Pfizer and BioNTech report their COVID-19 vaccine is more than 90% effective; US stock indexes hit record highs.9Nov 10: Back above its pre-bear-market peak of 1,705.22 (January 16, 2020).10Nov 13: Russell 2000 sets the first of 13 record closing highs this year, at 1,744.04. Back above its pre-bear-market peak of 1,740.75 (August 31, 2018).11Dec 23: Last record close of the year: 2,007.10. Russell 2000 closes above 2,000 for the first time (2,007.10).

Key Events in 2020

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

  1. 1
    Monday, March 9
    Dow falls 2,013.76 points (7.8%) after Saudi Arabia cuts oil prices following the collapse of OPEC+ talks. Source
    Russell 2000: −9.4% that day · −21.4% a month later
  2. 2
    Monday, March 9 From the data
    Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 1,705.22 (January 16, 2020).
  3. 3
    Wednesday, March 11
    World Health Organization declares COVID-19 a pandemic. Source
    Russell 2000: −6.4% that day · −11.8% a month later
  4. 4
    Monday, March 16
    Dow falls 2,997.10 points (12.9%), its largest one-day point drop on record; the VIX closes at a record 82.69. Source
    Russell 2000: −14.3% that day · +2.2% a month later
  5. 5
    Wednesday, March 18 From the data
    Bear market low: 991.16, 41.9% below the peak.
  6. 6
    Tuesday, March 24 From the data
    Biggest one-day rise of the year: +9.4%.
  7. 7
    Friday, March 27
    President Trump signs the $2.2 trillion CARES Act economic relief bill. Source
    Russell 2000: −4.1% that day · +8.6% a month later
  8. 8
    Monday, November 9
    Pfizer and BioNTech report their COVID-19 vaccine is more than 90% effective; US stock indexes hit record highs. Source
    Russell 2000: +3.4% that day · +16.4% a month later
  9. 9
    Tuesday, November 10 From the data
    Back above its pre-bear-market peak of 1,705.22 (January 16, 2020).
  10. 10
    Friday, November 13 From the data
    Russell 2000 sets the first of 13 record closing highs this year, at 1,744.04. Back above its pre-bear-market peak of 1,740.75 (August 31, 2018).
  11. 11
    Wednesday, December 23 From the data
    Last record close of the year: 2,007.10. Russell 2000 closes above 2,000 for the first time (2,007.10).

Biggest days of 2020

Best daysWorst days
Mar 24+9.4%Mar 16−14.3%
Apr 6+8.2%Mar 12−11.2%
Mar 13+7.8%Mar 18−10.4%
Mar 19+6.8%Mar 9−9.4%
Mar 17+6.7%Jun 11−7.6%

Volatility: 42.5% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

MonthCloseChangeHighLow
Jan1,614.06−3.3%1,705.221,614.06
Feb1,476.43−8.5%1,696.071,476.43
Mar1,153.10−21.9%1,531.20991.16
Apr1,310.66+13.7%1,360.761,052.05
May1,394.04+6.4%1,436.361,233.25
Jun1,441.37+3.4%1,536.891,356.22
Jul1,480.43+2.7%1,500.631,398.92
Aug1,561.88+5.5%1,585.471,506.80
Sep1,507.69−3.5%1,592.291,451.46
Oct1,538.48+2.0%1,649.051,531.20
Nov1,819.82+18.3%1,855.271,568.59
Dec1,974.86+8.5%2,007.101,836.05

Other Markets in 2020

Change over the calendar year.

MarketChangeYear-end
Russell 2000+18.4%1,974.86
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2020+7.2%30,606.48
S&P 500 in 2020+16.3%3,756.07
Nasdaq Composite in 2020+43.6%12,888.28
Nikkei 225 in 2020+16.0%27,444.17
Gold in 2020+24.7%$1,895.10
Silver in 2020+47.7%$26.33
WTI crude oil in 2020−20.5%$48.52
Brent crude oil in 2020−21.5%$51.80
US 10-year Treasury yield in 2020−1.00 pp0.92%
2020202120222023202420252026

Russell 2000 in 2020: FAQ

How much did the Russell 2000 rise in 2020?

The Russell 2000 rose 18.4% in 2020, from 1,668.47 at the end of 2019 to 1,974.86. Its highest close was 2,007.10 on Dec 23 — a record that stood until January 6, 2021, and its lowest 991.16 on Mar 18. The biggest one-day fall was −14.3% on Mar 16 and the biggest rise +9.4% on Mar 24. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 16.8%.

What were the highest and lowest closes of the Russell 2000 in 2020?

Highest: 2,007.10 on December 23, 2020. Lowest: 991.16 on March 18, 2020. It closed higher on 141 of 253 trading days.

What happened to the Russell 2000 on March 16, 2020?

Dow falls 2,997.10 points (12.9%), its largest one-day point drop on record; the VIX closes at a record 82.69. The Russell 2000 fell 14.3% that day, and was +2.2% a month later.

Did the Russell 2000 reach a record high in 2020?

Yes — 13 record closing highs, the last at 2,007.10 on December 23, 2020.

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.