S&P 500 in 1960

The S&P 500 fell 3.0% in 1960, from 59.89 at the end of 1959 to 58.11. Its highest close was 60.39 on Jan 5, and its lowest 52.20 on Oct 25. The biggest one-day fall was −2.3% on Sep 19 and the biggest rise +2.1% on Apr 6. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 4.3%.

Change in 1960

−3.0%

59.89 → 58.11

High

60.39

Jan 5

Low

52.20

Oct 25

After inflation

−4.3%

US CPI

Up days

122 of 252

longest run 10 up, 7 down

Below record

-4.3%

at the end of 1960

S&P 500, daily closes 1960

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 1960

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

1
Wednesday, April 6 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +2.1%.
2
Wednesday, September 14

OPEC is founded in Baghdad by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. Source

S&P 500: −0.7% that day · −3.0% a month later
3
Monday, September 19 From the data

Biggest one-day fall of the year: −2.3%.
4
Tuesday, November 8

John F. Kennedy is elected US president. Source

S&P 500: +0.4% next trading day (Nov 9) · +1.9% a month later

Biggest days of 1960

Best days		Worst days
Apr 6	+2.1%	Sep 19	−2.3%
Nov 10	+2.0%	Oct 24	−1.9%
Jul 29	+1.7%	Sep 26	−1.6%
Sep 30	+1.7%	Mar 3	−1.5%
Oct 26	+1.6%	Sep 7	−1.2%

Volatility: 10.4% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	55.61	−7.1%	60.39	55.61
Feb	56.12	+0.9%	56.82	54.73
Mar	55.34	−1.4%	56.01	53.47
Apr	54.37	−1.8%	56.59	54.37
May	55.83	+2.7%	55.83	54.13
Jun	56.92	+2.0%	58.00	55.89
Jul	55.51	−2.5%	57.38	54.17
Aug	56.96	+2.6%	58.07	54.72
Sep	53.52	−6.0%	57.09	52.48
Oct	53.39	−0.2%	54.86	52.20
Nov	55.54	+4.0%	56.43	53.94
Dec	58.11	+4.6%	58.11	55.30

Other Markets in 1960

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
S&P 500	−3.0%	58.11
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1960	−9.3%	615.89

1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969

S&P 500 in 1960: FAQ

How much did the S&P 500 fall in 1960?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the S&P 500 in 1960?

Highest: 60.39 on January 5, 1960. Lowest: 52.20 on October 25, 1960. It closed higher on 122 of 252 trading days.

What happened to the S&P 500 on September 14, 1960?

OPEC is founded in Baghdad by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. The S&P 500 fell 0.7% that day, and was −3.0% 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.