S&P 500 in 2009

The S&P 500 rose 23.5% in 2009, from 903.25 at the end of 2008 to 1,115.10. Its highest close was 1,127.78 on Dec 28, and its lowest 676.53 on Mar 9. The biggest one-day fall was −5.3% on Jan 20 and the biggest rise +7.1% on Mar 23. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 20.2%.

Change in 2009

+23.5%

903.25 → 1,115.10

High

1,127.78

Dec 28

Low

676.53

Mar 9

After inflation

+20.2%

US CPI

Up days

140 of 252

longest run 6 up, 6 down

Below record

-28.8%

at the end of 2009

S&P 500, daily closes 2009

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 2009

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

1
Tuesday, January 20 From the data

Biggest one-day fall of the year: −5.3%.
2
Tuesday, February 17

President Obama signs the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Source

S&P 500: −4.6% that day · −5.9% a month later
3
Monday, February 23 From the data

Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 934.70 (January 6, 2009).
4
Monday, March 9 From the data

Bear market low: 676.53, 27.6% below the peak.
5
Monday, March 23 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +7.1%.
6
Thursday, May 7

Fed releases results of stress tests on the 19 largest US banks. Source

S&P 500: −1.3% that day · +2.2% a month later
7
Monday, June 1

General Motors files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Source

S&P 500: +2.6% that day · +0.9% a month later
8
Monday, June 1 From the data

Back above its pre-bear-market peak of 934.70 (January 6, 2009).

Biggest days of 2009

Best days		Worst days
Mar 23	+7.1%	Jan 20	−5.3%
Mar 10	+6.4%	Feb 10	−4.9%
Jan 21	+4.3%	Mar 2	−4.7%
Mar 12	+4.1%	Feb 17	−4.6%
Feb 24	+4.0%	Apr 20	−4.3%

Volatility: 27.3% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	825.88	−8.6%	934.70	805.22
Feb	735.09	−11.0%	869.89	735.09
Mar	797.87	+8.5%	832.86	676.53
Apr	872.81	+9.4%	873.64	811.08
May	919.14	+5.3%	929.23	877.52
Jun	919.32	0.0%	946.21	893.04
Jul	987.48	+7.4%	987.48	879.13
Aug	1,020.62	+3.4%	1,030.98	979.73
Sep	1,057.08	+3.6%	1,071.66	994.75
Oct	1,036.19	−2.0%	1,097.91	1,025.21
Nov	1,095.63	+5.7%	1,110.63	1,042.88
Dec	1,115.10	+1.8%	1,127.78	1,091.94

Other Markets in 2009

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
S&P 500	+23.5%	1,115.10
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2009	+18.8%	10,428.05
Nasdaq Composite in 2009	+43.9%	2,269.15
Russell 2000 in 2009	+25.2%	625.39
Nikkei 225 in 2009	+19.0%	10,546.44
Gold in 2009	+25.0%	$1,087.50
Silver in 2009	+57.5%	$16.99
WTI crude oil in 2009	+78.0%	$79.39
Brent crude oil in 2009	+117.5%	$77.91
US 10-year Treasury yield in 2009	+1.60 pp	3.85%

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

S&P 500 in 2009: FAQ

How much did the S&P 500 rise in 2009?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the S&P 500 in 2009?

Highest: 1,127.78 on December 28, 2009. Lowest: 676.53 on March 9, 2009. It closed higher on 140 of 252 trading days.

What happened to the S&P 500 on February 17, 2009?

President Obama signs the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The S&P 500 fell 4.6% that day, and was −5.9% 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.