Dow Jones in 1970
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 4.8% in 1970, from 800.36 at the end of 1969 to 838.92. Its highest close was 842.00 on Dec 29, and its lowest 631.16 on May 26. The biggest one-day fall was −3.1% on May 25 and the biggest rise +5.1% on May 27. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 0.7%.
Dow Jones, daily closes 1970
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1970
What happened, and how the Dow Jones moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Monday, May 25 From the dataBiggest one-day fall of the year: −3.1%.
- 2
Tuesday, May 26Dow hits its bear-market bottom near 631. SourceDow Jones: −1.6% that day · +8.8% a month later
- 3
Tuesday, May 26 From the dataBear market low: 631.16, 35.9% below the peak.
- 4
Wednesday, May 27 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +5.1%.
- 5
Sunday, June 21Penn Central Transportation Company files for bankruptcy protection. SourceDow Jones: −0.6% next trading day (Jun 22) · +0.2% a month later
- 6
Wednesday, December 30Nixon signs the Securities Investor Protection Act, creating SIPC. SourceDow Jones: −0.1% that day · +2.7% a month later
Biggest days of 1970
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| May 27 | +5.1% | May 25 | −3.1% |
| May 28 | +3.2% | May 4 | −2.6% |
| Jun 16 | +2.7% | Jun 23 | −2.5% |
| May 15 | +2.5% | May 20 | −2.1% |
| May 29 | +2.4% | Jul 6 | −2.0% |
Volatility: 15.5% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 744.06 | −7.0% |
| Feb | 777.59 | +4.5% |
| Mar | 785.57 | +1.0% |
| Apr | 736.07 | −6.3% |
| May | 700.44 | −4.8% |
| Jun | 683.53 | −2.4% |
| Jul | 734.12 | +7.4% |
| Aug | 764.58 | +4.1% |
| Sep | 760.68 | −0.5% |
| Oct | 755.61 | −0.7% |
| Nov | 794.09 | +5.1% |
| Dec | 838.92 | +5.6% |
Other Markets in 1970
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| Dow Jones | +4.8% | 838.92 |
| S&P 500 in 1970 | +0.1% | 92.15 |
| Gold in 1970 | +6.2% | $37.38 |
| Silver in 1970 | −8.8% | $1.63 |
| US 10-year Treasury yield in 1970 | −1.38 pp | 6.50% |
Dow Jones in 1970: FAQ
How much did the Dow Jones Industrial Average rise in 1970?
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 4.8% in 1970, from 800.36 at the end of 1969 to 838.92. Its highest close was 842.00 on Dec 29, and its lowest 631.16 on May 26. The biggest one-day fall was −3.1% on May 25 and the biggest rise +5.1% on May 27. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 0.7%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1970?
Highest: 842.00 on December 29, 1970. Lowest: 631.16 on May 26, 1970. It closed higher on 126 of 254 trading days.
What happened to the Dow Jones Industrial Average on May 26, 1970?
Dow hits its bear-market bottom near 631. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.6% that day, and was +8.8% 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.
Cite this page
For essays, articles and research. Prices on this page update daily, so the citations include today's date as the date you accessed it.
@misc{corgano2026dowjonesin1970, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {Dow Jones in 1970}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/dow-jones/1970}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-11-01}}