S&P 500 in 1959

The S&P 500 rose 8.5% in 1959, from 55.21 at the end of 1958 to 59.89. Its highest close was 60.71 on Aug 3 — a record that stood until January 27, 1961, and its lowest 53.58 on Feb 9. The biggest one-day fall was −2.1% on Aug 10 and the biggest rise +2.2% on Feb 19. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 6.6%.

Change in 1959

+8.5%

55.21 → 59.89

High

60.71

Aug 3

Low

53.58

Feb 9

After inflation

+6.6%

US CPI

Up days

136 of 253

longest run 10 up, 5 down

Record highs

closing records

S&P 500, daily closes 1959

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 1959

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

1
Thursday, January 1

Fulgencio Batista flees Cuba as the Cuban Revolution succeeds. Source

S&P 500: +0.4% next trading day (Jan 2) · +0.4% a month later
2
Friday, January 2 From the data

sets the first of 27 record closing highs this year, at 55.44.
3
Thursday, February 19 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +2.2%.
4
Tuesday, July 7 From the data

closes above 60 for the first time (60.01).
5
Wednesday, July 15

About 500,000 US steelworkers go on strike, beginning the 116-day steel strike. Source

S&P 500: +0.1% that day · −0.5% a month later
6
Monday, August 3 From the data

Last record close of the year: 60.71.
7
Monday, August 10 From the data

Biggest one-day fall of the year: −2.1%.

Biggest days of 1959

Best days		Worst days
Feb 19	+2.2%	Aug 10	−2.1%
Sep 24	+1.7%	Sep 21	−1.6%
Aug 20	+1.5%	Feb 9	−1.5%
Jun 10	+1.5%	Sep 8	−1.4%
Feb 10	+1.4%	Jun 8	−1.3%

Volatility: 9.4% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	55.45	+0.4%	56.04	54.89
Feb	55.41	−0.1%	55.52	53.58
Mar	55.44	+0.1%	56.67	55.44
Apr	57.59	+3.9%	58.17	55.69
May	58.68	+1.9%	58.68	56.88
Jun	58.47	−0.4%	58.63	56.36
Jul	60.51	+3.5%	60.62	58.91
Aug	59.60	−1.5%	60.71	58.27
Sep	56.88	−4.6%	58.92	55.14
Oct	57.52	+1.1%	57.52	56.00
Nov	58.28	+1.3%	58.28	56.22
Dec	59.89	+2.8%	59.89	58.60

Other Markets in 1959

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
S&P 500	+8.5%	59.89
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1959	+16.4%	679.36

1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959

S&P 500 in 1959: FAQ

How much did the S&P 500 rise in 1959?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the S&P 500 in 1959?

Highest: 60.71 on August 3, 1959. Lowest: 53.58 on February 9, 1959. It closed higher on 136 of 253 trading days.

What happened to the S&P 500 on January 1, 1959?

Fulgencio Batista flees Cuba as the Cuban Revolution succeeds. The S&P 500 rose 0.4% on the next trading day (January 2, 1959), and was +0.4% a month later.

Did the S&P 500 reach a record high in 1959?

Yes — 27 record closing highs, the last at 60.71 on August 3, 1959.

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.