S&P 500 in 2018

The S&P 500 fell 6.2% in 2018, from 2,673.61 at the end of 2017 to 2,506.85. Its highest close was 2,930.75 on Sep 20 — a record that stood until April 23, 2019, and its lowest 2,351.10 on Dec 24. The biggest one-day fall was −4.1% on Feb 5 and the biggest rise +5.0% on Dec 26. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 8.0%.

Change in 2018

−6.2%

2,673.61 → 2,506.85

High

2,930.75

Sep 20

Low

2,351.10

Dec 24

After inflation

−8.0%

US CPI

Up days

132 of 251

longest run 6 up, 6 down

Record highs

closing records

S&P 500, daily closes 2018

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 2018

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 2 From the data

sets the first of 19 record closing highs this year, at 2,695.81.
2
Monday, February 5

Dow falls 1,175.21 points (4.6%) to 24,345.75 as stock volatility spikes. Source

S&P 500: −4.1% that day · −1.2% a month later
3
Friday, July 6

US tariffs on $34 billion of Chinese goods take effect; China retaliates with matching tariffs. Source

S&P 500: +0.8% that day · +3.8% a month later
4
Thursday, September 20 From the data

Last record close of the year: 2,930.75.
5
Wednesday, December 26

Dow gains 1,086.25 points (4.98%) to 22,878.45. Source

S&P 500: +5.0% that day · +13.3% a month later

Biggest days of 2018

Best days		Worst days
Dec 26	+5.0%	Feb 5	−4.1%
Mar 26	+2.7%	Feb 8	−3.8%
Nov 28	+2.3%	Oct 10	−3.3%
Oct 16	+2.1%	Dec 4	−3.2%
Nov 7	+2.1%	Oct 24	−3.1%

Volatility: 17.1% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	2,823.81	+5.6%	2,872.87	2,695.81
Feb	2,713.83	−3.9%	2,821.98	2,581.00
Mar	2,640.87	−2.7%	2,786.57	2,588.26
Apr	2,648.05	+0.3%	2,708.64	2,581.88
May	2,705.27	+2.2%	2,733.29	2,629.73
Jun	2,718.37	+0.5%	2,786.85	2,699.63
Jul	2,816.29	+3.6%	2,846.07	2,713.22
Aug	2,901.52	+3.0%	2,914.04	2,813.36
Sep	2,913.98	+0.4%	2,930.75	2,871.68
Oct	2,711.74	−6.9%	2,925.51	2,641.25
Nov	2,760.17	+1.8%	2,813.89	2,632.56
Dec	2,506.85	−9.2%	2,790.37	2,351.10

Other Markets in 2018

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
S&P 500	−6.2%	2,506.85
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2018	−5.6%	23,327.46
Nasdaq Composite in 2018	−3.9%	6,635.28
Russell 2000 in 2018	−12.2%	1,348.56
Nikkei 225 in 2018	−12.1%	20,014.77
Gold in 2018	−2.1%	$1,278.30
Silver in 2018	−8.8%	$15.43
WTI crude oil in 2018	−24.8%	$45.41
Brent crude oil in 2018	−19.2%	$53.80
US 10-year Treasury yield in 2018	+0.28 pp	2.69%

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

S&P 500 in 2018: FAQ

How much did the S&P 500 fall in 2018?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the S&P 500 in 2018?

Highest: 2,930.75 on September 20, 2018. Lowest: 2,351.10 on December 24, 2018. It closed higher on 132 of 251 trading days.

What happened to the S&P 500 on December 26, 2018?

Dow gains 1,086.25 points (4.98%) to 22,878.45. The S&P 500 rose 5.0% that day, and was +13.3% a month later.

Did the S&P 500 reach a record high in 2018?

Yes — 19 record closing highs, the last at 2,930.75 on September 20, 2018.

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.