S&P 500 in 2012

The S&P 500 rose 13.4% in 2012, from 1,257.60 at the end of 2011 to 1,426.19. Its highest close was 1,465.77 on Sep 14, and its lowest 1,277.06 on Jan 3. The biggest one-day fall was −2.5% on Jun 1 and the biggest rise +2.5% on Jun 29. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 11.5%.

Change in 2012

+13.4%

1,257.60 → 1,426.19

High

1,465.77

Sep 14

Low

1,277.06

Jan 3

After inflation

+11.5%

US CPI

Up days

132 of 250

longest run 6 up, 6 down

Below record

-8.9%

at the end of 2012

S&P 500, daily closes 2012

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 2012

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

1
Friday, May 18

Facebook begins trading on Nasdaq after its IPO at $38 per share. Source

S&P 500: −0.7% that day · +3.1% a month later
2
Friday, June 1 From the data

Biggest one-day fall of the year: −2.5%.
3
Friday, June 29 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +2.5%.
4
Thursday, July 26

ECB President Mario Draghi says the ECB is ready to do "whatever it takes" to preserve the euro. Source

S&P 500: +1.7% that day · +4.8% a month later
5
Monday, October 29

US stock markets close for two days (October 29-30) due to Hurricane Sandy, the first two-day weather closure since 1888. Source

S&P 500: 0.0% next trading day (Oct 31) · +0.3% a month later

Biggest days of 2012

Best days		Worst days
Jun 29	+2.5%	Jun 1	−2.5%
Jun 6	+2.3%	Nov 7	−2.4%
Sep 6	+2.0%	Jun 21	−2.2%
Nov 19	+2.0%	Apr 10	−1.7%
Jul 27	+1.9%	Oct 19	−1.7%

Volatility: 12.8% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	1,312.41	+4.4%	1,326.06	1,277.06
Feb	1,365.68	+4.1%	1,372.18	1,324.09
Mar	1,408.47	+3.1%	1,416.51	1,343.36
Apr	1,397.91	−0.7%	1,419.04	1,358.59
May	1,310.33	−6.3%	1,405.82	1,295.22
Jun	1,362.16	+4.0%	1,362.16	1,278.04
Jul	1,379.32	+1.3%	1,385.97	1,334.76
Aug	1,406.58	+2.0%	1,418.16	1,365.00
Sep	1,440.67	+2.4%	1,465.77	1,403.44
Oct	1,412.16	−2.0%	1,461.40	1,408.75
Nov	1,416.18	+0.3%	1,428.39	1,353.33
Dec	1,426.19	+0.7%	1,446.79	1,402.43

Other Markets in 2012

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
S&P 500	+13.4%	1,426.19
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2012	+7.3%	13,104.14
Nasdaq Composite in 2012	+15.9%	3,019.51
Russell 2000 in 2012	+14.6%	849.35
Nikkei 225 in 2012	+22.9%	10,395.18
Gold in 2012	+8.3%	$1,657.50
Silver in 2012	+6.3%	$29.95
WTI crude oil in 2012	−7.1%	$91.83
Brent crude oil in 2012	+2.5%	$110.80
US 10-year Treasury yield in 2012	−0.11 pp	1.78%

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

S&P 500 in 2012: FAQ

How much did the S&P 500 rise in 2012?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the S&P 500 in 2012?

Highest: 1,465.77 on September 14, 2012. Lowest: 1,277.06 on January 3, 2012. It closed higher on 132 of 250 trading days.

What happened to the S&P 500 on July 26, 2012?

ECB President Mario Draghi says the ECB is ready to do "whatever it takes" to preserve the euro. The S&P 500 rose 1.7% that day, and was +4.8% 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.