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Russell 2000 in 2021

The Russell 2000 rose 13.7% in 2021, from 1,974.86 at the end of 2020 to 2,245.31. Its highest close was 2,442.74 on Nov 8 — a record that stood until September 18, 2025, and its lowest 1,945.91 on Jan 4. The biggest one-day fall was −3.7% on Feb 25 and the biggest rise +4.0% on Jan 6. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 6.2%.

Change in 2021
+13.7%
1,974.86 → 2,245.31
High
2,442.74
Nov 8
Low
1,945.91
Jan 4
After inflation
+6.2%
US CPI
Up days
130 of 252
longest run 7 up, 6 down
Record highs
17
closing records

Russell 2000, daily closes 2021

Numbers mark the events below
1,9932,1942,396previous recordJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec1Jan 6: Russell 2000 sets the first of 17 record closing highs this year, at 2,057.92. Biggest one-day rise of the year: +4.0%.2Jan 28: Robinhood halts purchases of GameStop and other heavily traded stocks during the short squeeze.3Feb 25: Biggest one-day fall of the year: −3.7%.4Mar 11: President Biden signs the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act.5Apr 14: Coinbase goes public through a direct listing on Nasdaq.6Nov 8: Last record close of the year: 2,442.74.

Key Events in 2021

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

  1. 1
    Wednesday, January 6 From the data
    Russell 2000 sets the first of 17 record closing highs this year, at 2,057.92. Biggest one-day rise of the year: +4.0%.
  2. 2
    Thursday, January 28
    Robinhood halts purchases of GameStop and other heavily traded stocks during the short squeeze. Source
    Russell 2000: −0.1% that day · +4.4% a month later
  3. 3
    Thursday, February 25 From the data
    Biggest one-day fall of the year: −3.7%.
  4. 4
    Thursday, March 11
    President Biden signs the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act. Source
    Russell 2000: +2.3% that day · −1.8% a month later
  5. 5
    Wednesday, April 14
    Coinbase goes public through a direct listing on Nasdaq. Source
    Russell 2000: +0.8% that day · −4.2% a month later
  6. 6
    Monday, November 8 From the data
    Last record close of the year: 2,442.74.

Biggest days of 2021

Best daysWorst days
Jan 6+4.0%Feb 25−3.7%
Mar 1+3.4%Nov 26−3.7%
Jul 20+3.0%Mar 23−3.6%
Dec 21+2.9%May 12−3.3%
Aug 27+2.9%Mar 18−2.9%

Volatility: 22.0% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

MonthCloseChangeHighLow
Jan2,073.64+5.0%2,168.761,945.91
Feb2,201.05+6.1%2,299.002,126.16
Mar2,220.52+0.9%2,360.172,134.27
Apr2,266.45+2.1%2,304.162,188.21
May2,268.97+0.1%2,277.452,135.14
Jun2,310.55+1.8%2,343.762,237.75
Jul2,226.25−3.6%2,329.362,130.68
Aug2,273.77+2.1%2,277.152,132.42
Sep2,204.37−3.1%2,304.022,182.20
Oct2,297.19+4.2%2,312.642,214.96
Nov2,198.91−4.3%2,442.742,198.91
Dec2,245.31+2.1%2,271.712,139.87

Other Markets in 2021

Change over the calendar year.

MarketChangeYear-end
Russell 2000+13.7%2,245.31
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2021+18.7%36,338.30
S&P 500 in 2021+26.9%4,766.18
Nasdaq Composite in 2021+21.4%15,644.97
Nikkei 225 in 2021+4.9%28,791.71
Gold in 2021−3.5%$1,828.60
Silver in 2021−11.4%$23.33
WTI crude oil in 2021+55.0%$75.21
Brent crude oil in 2021+50.2%$77.78
US 10-year Treasury yield in 2021+0.60 pp1.51%
2020202120222023202420252026

Russell 2000 in 2021: FAQ

How much did the Russell 2000 rise in 2021?

The Russell 2000 rose 13.7% in 2021, from 1,974.86 at the end of 2020 to 2,245.31. Its highest close was 2,442.74 on Nov 8 — a record that stood until September 18, 2025, and its lowest 1,945.91 on Jan 4. The biggest one-day fall was −3.7% on Feb 25 and the biggest rise +4.0% on Jan 6. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 6.2%.

What were the highest and lowest closes of the Russell 2000 in 2021?

Highest: 2,442.74 on November 8, 2021. Lowest: 1,945.91 on January 4, 2021. It closed higher on 130 of 252 trading days.

What happened to the Russell 2000 on March 11, 2021?

President Biden signs the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act. The Russell 2000 rose 2.3% that day, and was −1.8% a month later.

Did the Russell 2000 reach a record high in 2021?

Yes — 17 record closing highs, the last at 2,442.74 on November 8, 2021.

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.