S&P 500 in 1996

The S&P 500 rose 20.3% in 1996, from 615.93 at the end of 1995 to 740.74. Its highest close was 757.03 on Nov 25 — a record that stood until January 10, 1997, and its lowest 598.48 on Jan 10. The biggest one-day fall was −3.1% on Mar 8 and the biggest rise +1.9% on Dec 19. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 16.4%.

Change in 1996

+20.3%

615.93 → 740.74

High

757.03

Nov 25

Low

598.48

Jan 10

After inflation

+16.4%

US CPI

Up days

138 of 254

longest run 7 up, 8 down

Record highs

closing records

S&P 500, daily closes 1996

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 1996

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

1
Monday, January 29 From the data

S&P 500 sets the first of 39 record closing highs this year, at 624.22.
2
Friday, March 8 From the data

Biggest one-day fall of the year: −3.1%.
3
Friday, October 4 From the data

S&P 500 closes above 700 for the first time (701.46).
4
Monday, November 25 From the data

Last record close of the year: 757.03.
5
Thursday, December 5

Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan asks in a speech whether 'irrational exuberance' has inflated asset values. Source

S&P 500: −0.1% that day · +0.3% a month later
6
Thursday, December 19 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +1.9%.

Biggest days of 1996

Best days		Worst days
Dec 19	+1.9%	Mar 8	−3.1%
Aug 2	+1.9%	Jul 15	−2.5%
Mar 18	+1.7%	Jul 5	−2.2%
Feb 22	+1.7%	Jan 10	−1.8%
Aug 1	+1.6%	Apr 8	−1.8%

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

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	636.02	+3.3%	636.02	598.48
Feb	640.43	+0.7%	661.45	635.84
Mar	645.50	+0.8%	655.79	633.50
Apr	654.17	+1.3%	655.88	631.18
May	669.12	+2.3%	678.51	638.26
Jun	670.63	+0.2%	678.44	661.96
Jul	639.95	−4.6%	675.88	626.65
Aug	651.99	+1.9%	670.68	650.02
Sep	687.33	+5.4%	687.33	649.44
Oct	705.27	+2.6%	710.82	689.08
Nov	757.02	+7.3%	757.03	703.77
Dec	740.74	−2.2%	756.79	720.98

Other Markets in 1996

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
S&P 500	+20.3%	740.74
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1996	+26.0%	6,448.26
Nasdaq Composite in 1996	+22.7%	1,291.03
Russell 2000 in 1996	+14.8%	362.61
Nikkei 225 in 1996	−2.6%	19,361.00
Gold in 1996	−4.6%	$369.25
Silver in 1996	−7.0%	$4.77
WTI crude oil in 1996	+32.5%	$25.90
Brent crude oil in 1996	+28.2%	$23.90
US 10-year Treasury yield in 1996	+0.85 pp	6.43%

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

S&P 500 in 1996: FAQ

How much did the S&P 500 rise in 1996?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the S&P 500 in 1996?

Highest: 757.03 on November 25, 1996. Lowest: 598.48 on January 10, 1996. It closed higher on 138 of 254 trading days.

What happened to the S&P 500 on December 5, 1996?

Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan asks in a speech whether 'irrational exuberance' has inflated asset values. The S&P 500 fell 0.1% that day, and was +0.3% a month later.

Did the S&P 500 reach a record high in 1996?

Yes — 39 record closing highs, the last at 757.03 on November 25, 1996.

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.