Dow Jones in 1966
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 18.9% in 1966, from 969.26 at the end of 1965 to 785.69. Its highest close was 995.15 on Feb 9 — a record that stood until November 10, 1972, and its lowest 744.32 on Oct 7. The biggest one-day fall was −2.1% on Oct 3 and the biggest rise +2.6% on Oct 12. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 21.6%.
Dow Jones, daily closes 1966
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1966
What happened, and how the Dow Jones moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Wednesday, January 5 From the dataDow Jones sets the first of 8 record closing highs this year, at 981.62.
- 2
Wednesday, February 9Dow reaches 995.15, the peak of the 1960s bull market. SourceDow Jones: +0.4% that day · −6.2% a month later
- 3
Monday, August 22 From the dataEnters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 995.15 (February 9, 1966).
- 4
Monday, October 3 From the dataBiggest one-day fall of the year: −2.1%.
- 5
Friday, October 7S&P 500 bottoms at 73.20, down 22.18% from its February peak. SourceDow Jones: −0.7% that day · +7.4% a month later
- 6
Friday, October 7 From the dataBear market low: 744.32, 25.2% below the peak.
- 7
Wednesday, October 12 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +2.6%.
Biggest days of 1966
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 12 | +2.6% | Oct 3 | −2.1% |
| Sep 12 | +1.9% | Jul 25 | −1.9% |
| Oct 18 | +1.7% | May 9 | −1.8% |
| May 18 | +1.7% | Aug 29 | −1.7% |
| Aug 31 | +1.6% | Sep 28 | −1.7% |
Volatility: 11.8% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 983.51 | +1.5% |
| Feb | 951.89 | −3.2% |
| Mar | 924.77 | −2.8% |
| Apr | 933.68 | +1.0% |
| May | 884.07 | −5.3% |
| Jun | 870.10 | −1.6% |
| Jul | 847.38 | −2.6% |
| Aug | 788.41 | −7.0% |
| Sep | 774.22 | −1.8% |
| Oct | 807.07 | +4.2% |
| Nov | 791.59 | −1.9% |
| Dec | 785.69 | −0.7% |
Other Markets in 1966
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| Dow Jones | −18.9% | 785.69 |
| S&P 500 in 1966 | −13.1% | 80.33 |
| US 10-year Treasury yield in 1966 | −0.01 pp | 4.64% |
Dow Jones in 1966: FAQ
How much did the Dow Jones Industrial Average fall in 1966?
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 18.9% in 1966, from 969.26 at the end of 1965 to 785.69. Its highest close was 995.15 on Feb 9 — a record that stood until November 10, 1972, and its lowest 744.32 on Oct 7. The biggest one-day fall was −2.1% on Oct 3 and the biggest rise +2.6% on Oct 12. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 21.6%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1966?
Highest: 995.15 on February 9, 1966. Lowest: 744.32 on October 7, 1966. It closed higher on 112 of 252 trading days.
What happened to the Dow Jones Industrial Average on October 7, 1966?
S&P 500 bottoms at 73.20, down 22.18% from its February peak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.7% that day, and was +7.4% a month later.
Did the Dow Jones Industrial Average reach a record high in 1966?
Yes — 8 record closing highs, the last at 995.15 on February 9, 1966.
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{corgano2026dowjonesin1966, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {Dow Jones in 1966}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/dow-jones/1966}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-11-01}}