S&P 500 in 2001

The S&P 500 fell 13.0% in 2001, from 1,320.28 at the end of 2000 to 1,148.08. Its highest close was 1,373.73 on Jan 30, and its lowest 965.80 on Sep 21. The biggest one-day fall was −4.9% on Sep 17 and the biggest rise +5.0% on Jan 3. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 14.4%.

Change in 2001

−13.0%

1,320.28 → 1,148.08

High

1,373.73

Jan 30

Low

965.80

Sep 21

After inflation

−14.4%

US CPI

Up days

119 of 248

longest run 6 up, 5 down

Below record

-24.8%

at the end of 2001

S&P 500, daily closes 2001

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 2001

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 3

Fed cuts its federal funds target by 50 basis points to 6.00% in an inter-meeting move. Source

S&P 500: +5.0% that day · +7.0% a month later
2
Monday, March 12 From the data

Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 1,527.46 (March 24, 2000).
3
Tuesday, September 11

Terrorist attacks hit New York and Washington; US stock exchanges close. Source

S&P 500: −4.9% next trading day (Sep 17) · −0.2% a month later
4
Monday, September 17

US stock markets reopen; the Dow falls 684.81 points (7.1%) after a 50 bp Fed rate cut. Source

S&P 500: −4.9% that day · −0.2% a month later
5
Friday, September 21 From the data

Bear market low: 965.80, 36.8% below the peak.
6
Sunday, December 2

Enron files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Source

S&P 500: −0.8% next trading day (Dec 3) · +1.3% a month later
7
Tuesday, December 11

China becomes a member of the World Trade Organization. Source

S&P 500: −0.3% that day · +1.5% a month later

Biggest days of 2001

Best days		Worst days
Jan 3	+5.0%	Sep 17	−4.9%
Apr 5	+4.4%	Mar 12	−4.3%
Sep 24	+3.9%	Apr 3	−3.4%
Apr 18	+3.9%	Sep 20	−3.1%
May 16	+2.8%	Jan 2	−2.8%

Volatility: 21.6% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	1,366.01	+3.5%	1,373.73	1,283.27
Feb	1,239.94	−9.2%	1,373.47	1,239.94
Mar	1,160.33	−6.4%	1,264.74	1,117.58
Apr	1,249.46	+7.7%	1,253.69	1,103.25
May	1,255.82	+0.5%	1,312.83	1,245.67
Jun	1,224.38	−2.5%	1,283.57	1,208.43
Jul	1,211.23	−1.1%	1,236.72	1,171.65
Aug	1,133.58	−6.4%	1,220.75	1,129.03
Sep	1,040.94	−8.2%	1,132.94	965.80
Oct	1,059.78	+1.8%	1,104.61	1,038.55
Nov	1,139.45	+7.5%	1,157.42	1,084.10
Dec	1,148.08	+0.8%	1,170.35	1,119.38

Other Markets in 2001

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
S&P 500	−13.0%	1,148.08
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2001	−7.1%	10,021.50
Nasdaq Composite in 2001	−21.1%	1,950.40
Russell 2000 in 2001	+1.0%	488.50
Nikkei 225 in 2001	−23.5%	10,542.62
Gold in 2001	+0.7%	$276.50
Silver in 2001	−1.3%	$4.52
WTI crude oil in 2001	−25.3%	$19.96
Brent crude oil in 2001	−14.3%	$19.35
US 10-year Treasury yield in 2001	−0.05 pp	5.07%

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

S&P 500 in 2001: FAQ

How much did the S&P 500 fall in 2001?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the S&P 500 in 2001?

Highest: 1,373.73 on January 30, 2001. Lowest: 965.80 on September 21, 2001. It closed higher on 119 of 248 trading days.

What happened to the S&P 500 on January 3, 2001?

Fed cuts its federal funds target by 50 basis points to 6.00% in an inter-meeting move. The S&P 500 rose 5.0% that day, and was +7.0% 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.