S&P 500 in 1968

The S&P 500 rose 7.7% in 1968, from 96.47 at the end of 1967 to 103.86. Its highest close was 108.37 on Nov 29 — a record that stood until March 6, 1972, and its lowest 87.72 on Mar 5. The biggest one-day fall was −1.9% on Mar 14 and the biggest rise +2.5% on Apr 1. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 2.8%.

Change in 1968

+7.7%

96.47 → 103.86

High

108.37

Nov 29

Low

87.72

Mar 5

After inflation

+2.8%

US CPI

Up days

117 of 226

longest run 10 up, 8 down

Record highs

closing records

S&P 500, daily closes 1968

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 1968

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

1
Thursday, March 14 From the data

Biggest one-day fall of the year: −1.9%.
2
Monday, April 1 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +2.5%.
3
Monday, April 29 From the data

S&P 500 sets the first of 33 record closing highs this year, at 97.97.
4
Tuesday, June 4 From the data

S&P 500 closes above 100 for the first time (100.38).
5
Friday, November 29 From the data

Last record close of the year: 108.37.

Biggest days of 1968

Best days		Worst days
Apr 1	+2.5%	Mar 14	−1.9%
Apr 8	+1.8%	Mar 4	−1.3%
Mar 6	+1.8%	Jul 25	−1.3%
Jun 20	+1.5%	Jan 22	−1.3%
Apr 23	+1.4%	Apr 19	−1.3%

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

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	92.24	−4.4%	96.72	92.24
Feb	89.36	−3.1%	92.56	89.07
Mar	90.20	+0.9%	90.23	87.72
Apr	97.46	+8.0%	97.97	92.48
May	98.68	+1.3%	98.91	96.45
Jun	99.58	+0.9%	101.66	99.58
Jul	97.74	−1.8%	102.39	97.65
Aug	98.86	+1.1%	99.00	96.63
Sep	102.67	+3.9%	102.67	99.32
Oct	103.41	+0.7%	104.99	102.86
Nov	108.37	+4.8%	108.37	103.06
Dec	103.86	−4.2%	108.12	103.80

Other Markets in 1968

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
S&P 500	+7.7%	103.86
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1968	+4.3%	943.75
Gold in 1968	+19.7%	$41.90
US 10-year Treasury yield in 1968	+0.46 pp	6.16%

1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969

S&P 500 in 1968: FAQ

How much did the S&P 500 rise in 1968?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the S&P 500 in 1968?

Highest: 108.37 on November 29, 1968. Lowest: 87.72 on March 5, 1968. It closed higher on 117 of 226 trading days.

Did the S&P 500 reach a record high in 1968?

Yes — 33 record closing highs, the last at 108.37 on November 29, 1968.

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.