S&P 500 in 2002

The S&P 500 fell 23.4% in 2002, from 1,148.08 at the end of 2001 to 879.82. Its highest close was 1,172.51 on Jan 4, and its lowest 776.76 on Oct 9. The biggest one-day fall was −4.2% on Sep 3 and the biggest rise +5.7% on Jul 24. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 25.1%.

Change in 2002

−23.4%

1,148.08 → 879.82

High

1,172.51

Jan 4

Low

776.76

Oct 9

After inflation

−25.1%

US CPI

Up days

112 of 252

longest run 4 up, 6 down

Below record

-42.4%

at the end of 2002

S&P 500, daily closes 2002

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 2002

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

1
Wednesday, July 10 From the data

Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 1,172.51 (January 4, 2002).
2
Sunday, July 21

WorldCom files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after disclosing an accounting fraud. Source

S&P 500: −3.3% next trading day (Jul 22) · +12.1% a month later
3
Tuesday, July 23 From the data

Bear market low: 797.70, 32.0% below the peak.
4
Wednesday, July 24 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +5.7%.
5
Tuesday, July 30

President Bush signs the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on corporate accounting and governance. Source

S&P 500: +0.4% that day · +4.0% a month later
6
Tuesday, September 3 From the data

Biggest one-day fall of the year: −4.2%.

Biggest days of 2002

Best days		Worst days
Jul 24	+5.7%	Sep 3	−4.2%
Jul 29	+5.4%	Jul 19	−3.8%
Oct 15	+4.7%	Aug 5	−3.4%
Aug 14	+4.0%	Jul 10	−3.4%
Oct 1	+4.0%	Jul 22	−3.3%

Volatility: 26.0% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	1,130.20	−1.6%	1,172.51	1,100.64
Feb	1,106.73	−2.1%	1,122.20	1,080.17
Mar	1,147.39	+3.7%	1,170.29	1,131.78
Apr	1,076.92	−6.1%	1,146.54	1,065.45
May	1,067.14	−0.9%	1,106.59	1,049.49
Jun	989.82	−7.2%	1,049.90	973.53
Jul	911.62	−7.9%	989.03	797.70
Aug	916.07	+0.5%	962.70	834.60
Sep	815.28	−11.0%	909.58	815.28
Oct	885.76	+8.6%	899.72	776.76
Nov	936.31	+5.7%	938.87	876.19
Dec	879.82	−6.0%	934.53	875.40

Other Markets in 2002

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
S&P 500	−23.4%	879.82
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2002	−16.8%	8,341.63
Nasdaq Composite in 2002	−31.5%	1,335.51
Russell 2000 in 2002	−21.6%	383.09
Nikkei 225 in 2002	−18.6%	8,578.95
Gold in 2002	+25.6%	$347.20
Silver in 2002	+3.3%	$4.67
WTI crude oil in 2002	+56.4%	$31.21
Brent crude oil in 2002	+55.7%	$30.12
US 10-year Treasury yield in 2002	−1.24 pp	3.83%

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

S&P 500 in 2002: FAQ

How much did the S&P 500 fall in 2002?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the S&P 500 in 2002?

Highest: 1,172.51 on January 4, 2002. Lowest: 776.76 on October 9, 2002. It closed higher on 112 of 252 trading days.

What happened to the S&P 500 on July 21, 2002?

WorldCom files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after disclosing an accounting fraud. The S&P 500 fell 3.3% on the next trading day (July 22, 2002), and was +12.1% 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.