S&P 500 in 1966

The S&P 500 fell 13.1% in 1966, from 92.43 at the end of 1965 to 80.33. Its highest close was 94.06 on Feb 9 — a record that stood until May 4, 1967, and its lowest 73.20 on Oct 7. The biggest one-day fall was −2.5% on Aug 29 and the biggest rise +2.8% on Oct 12. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 16.0%.

Change in 1966

−13.1%

92.43 → 80.33

High

94.06

Feb 9

Low

73.20

Oct 7

After inflation

−16.0%

US CPI

Up days

120 of 252

longest run 7 up, 12 down

Record highs

closing records

S&P 500, daily closes 1966

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 1966

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

1
Wednesday, January 5 From the data

S&P 500 sets the first of 9 record closing highs this year, at 92.85.
2
Wednesday, February 9

Dow reaches 995.15, the peak of the 1960s bull market. Source

S&P 500: +0.5% that day · −4.9% a month later
3
Monday, August 29 From the data

Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 94.06 (February 9, 1966). Biggest one-day fall of the year: −2.5%.
4
Friday, October 7

S&P 500 bottoms at 73.20, down 22.18% from its February peak. Source

S&P 500: −1.1% that day · +9.1% a month later
5
Friday, October 7 From the data

Bear market low: 73.20, 22.2% below the peak.
6
Wednesday, October 12 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +2.8%.

Biggest days of 1966

Best days		Worst days
Oct 12	+2.8%	Aug 29	−2.5%
Sep 12	+2.1%	Oct 3	−2.2%
Oct 10	+1.8%	Aug 26	−2.1%
Aug 30	+1.8%	Jul 25	−1.8%
May 18	+1.8%	Aug 22	−1.7%

Volatility: 11.8% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	92.88	+0.5%	93.95	92.18
Feb	91.22	−1.8%	94.06	90.89
Mar	89.23	−2.2%	90.06	87.35
Apr	91.06	+2.1%	92.42	89.94
May	86.13	−5.4%	90.90	83.63
Jun	84.74	−1.6%	87.07	84.74
Jul	83.60	−1.3%	87.61	83.60
Aug	77.10	−7.8%	84.00	74.53
Sep	76.56	−0.7%	80.08	76.05
Oct	80.20	+4.8%	80.24	73.20
Nov	80.45	+0.3%	82.37	79.67
Dec	80.33	−0.1%	83.00	80.08

Other Markets in 1966

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
S&P 500	−13.1%	80.33
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1966	−18.9%	785.69
US 10-year Treasury yield in 1966	−0.01 pp	4.64%

1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969

S&P 500 in 1966: FAQ

How much did the S&P 500 fall in 1966?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the S&P 500 in 1966?

Highest: 94.06 on February 9, 1966. Lowest: 73.20 on October 7, 1966. It closed higher on 120 of 252 trading days.

What happened to the S&P 500 on October 7, 1966?

S&P 500 bottoms at 73.20, down 22.18% from its February peak. The S&P 500 fell 1.1% that day, and was +9.1% a month later.

Did the S&P 500 reach a record high in 1966?

Yes — 9 record closing highs, the last at 94.06 on February 9, 1966.

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.