Dow Jones in 1930
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 33.8% in 1930, from 248.48 at the end of 1929 to 164.58. Its highest close was 294.07 on Apr 17, and its lowest 157.51 on Dec 16. The biggest one-day fall was −5.8% on Jun 16 and the biggest rise +5.1% on Dec 17. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 29.2%.
Dow Jones, daily closes 1930
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1930
What happened, and how the Dow Jones moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Saturday, May 17The Bank for International Settlements opens for business in Basel. SourceDow Jones: +0.3% that day · −9.0% a month later
- 2
Monday, June 16 From the dataEnters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 294.07 (April 17, 1930). Biggest one-day fall of the year: −5.8%.
- 3
Tuesday, June 17President Hoover signs the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act into law. SourceDow Jones: −0.6% that day · −0.4% a month later
- 4
Friday, November 7Bank of Tennessee, a principal Caldwell and Company subsidiary, closes, starting a regional banking panic. SourceDow Jones: −3.5% that day · +3.4% a month later
- 5
Thursday, December 11Bank of United States, New York City's fourth-largest bank, ceases operations. SourceDow Jones: −2.1% that day · −0.8% a month later
- 6
Tuesday, December 16 From the dataBear market low: 157.51, 46.4% below the peak.
- 7
Wednesday, December 17 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +5.1%.
Biggest days of 1930
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 17 | +5.1% | Jun 16 | −5.8% |
| Jun 19 | +4.6% | Oct 17 | −4.7% |
| Oct 1 | +4.5% | Oct 9 | −4.3% |
| Oct 20 | +4.3% | Jun 18 | −4.3% |
| Oct 24 | +3.7% | Aug 8 | −4.2% |
Volatility: 26.5% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 267.14 | +7.5% |
| Feb | 271.11 | +1.5% |
| Mar | 286.10 | +5.5% |
| Apr | 279.23 | −2.4% |
| May | 275.07 | −1.5% |
| Jun | 226.34 | −17.7% |
| Jul | 233.99 | +3.4% |
| Aug | 240.42 | +2.7% |
| Sep | 204.90 | −14.8% |
| Oct | 183.35 | −10.5% |
| Nov | 183.39 | 0.0% |
| Dec | 164.58 | −10.3% |
Dow Jones in 1930: FAQ
How much did the Dow Jones Industrial Average fall in 1930?
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 33.8% in 1930, from 248.48 at the end of 1929 to 164.58. Its highest close was 294.07 on Apr 17, and its lowest 157.51 on Dec 16. The biggest one-day fall was −5.8% on Jun 16 and the biggest rise +5.1% on Dec 17. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 29.2%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1930?
Highest: 294.07 on April 17, 1930. Lowest: 157.51 on December 16, 1930. It closed higher on 159 of 298 trading days.
What happened to the Dow Jones Industrial Average on November 7, 1930?
Bank of Tennessee, a principal Caldwell and Company subsidiary, closes, starting a regional banking panic. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 3.5% that day, and was +3.4% a month later.
Data: Daily closes since 26 May 1896. Saturday sessions were held until 1952. The NYSE was closed from 31 Jul to 11 Dec 1914. 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.
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@misc{corgano2026dowjonesin1930, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {Dow Jones in 1930}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/dow-jones/1930}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-10-31}}