S&P 500 in 1953

The S&P 500 fell 6.6% in 1953, from 26.57 at the end of 1952 to 24.81. Its highest close was 26.66 on Jan 5, and its lowest 22.71 on Sep 14. The biggest one-day fall was −3.1% on Feb 9 and the biggest rise +1.4% on Sep 22. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 7.3%.

Change in 1953

−6.6%

26.57 → 24.81

High

26.66

Jan 5

Low

22.71

Sep 14

After inflation

−7.3%

US CPI

Up days

127 of 251

longest run 8 up, 6 down

Below record

-22.1%

at the end of 1953

S&P 500, daily closes 1953

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 1953

What happened, and how the S&P 500 moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.

1
Friday, February 6

White House announces steps to eliminate Korean War wage and price controls. Source

S&P 500: +1.4% that day · −0.9% a month later
2
Monday, February 9 From the data

Biggest one-day fall of the year: −3.1%.
3
Thursday, March 5

Soviet leader Joseph Stalin dies. Source

S&P 500: 0.0% that day · −2.1% a month later
4
Monday, July 27

Korean War armistice is signed. Source

S&P 500: −0.7% that day · −0.6% a month later
5
Tuesday, September 22 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +1.4%.

Biggest days of 1953

Best days		Worst days
Sep 22	+1.4%	Feb 9	−3.1%
Feb 6	+1.4%	Apr 6	−2.5%
Jun 17	+1.3%	Sep 14	−1.9%
Oct 29	+1.2%	Aug 31	−1.8%
Oct 15	+1.1%	Jun 9	−1.7%

Volatility: 9.6% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	26.38	−0.7%	26.66	25.86
Feb	25.90	−1.8%	26.54	25.48
Mar	25.29	−2.4%	26.33	25.29
Apr	24.62	−2.6%	25.25	24.19
May	24.54	−0.3%	25.06	24.46
Jun	24.14	−1.6%	24.22	23.54
Jul	24.75	+2.5%	24.75	24.07
Aug	23.32	−5.8%	24.84	23.32
Sep	23.35	+0.1%	23.65	22.71
Oct	24.54	+5.1%	24.58	23.39
Nov	24.76	+0.9%	24.76	24.25
Dec	24.81	+0.2%	24.99	24.55

Other Markets in 1953

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
S&P 500	−6.6%	24.81
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1953	−3.8%	280.90

1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959

S&P 500 in 1953: FAQ

How much did the S&P 500 fall in 1953?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the S&P 500 in 1953?

Highest: 26.66 on January 5, 1953. Lowest: 22.71 on September 14, 1953. It closed higher on 127 of 251 trading days.

What happened to the S&P 500 on February 6, 1953?

White House announces steps to eliminate Korean War wage and price controls. The S&P 500 rose 1.4% that day, and was −0.9% a month later.

Data: Daily closes since 1950 (price index, excluding dividends). 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.