Dow Jones in 1972
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 14.6% in 1972, from 890.20 at the end of 1971 to 1,020.02. Its highest close was 1,036.27 on Dec 11 — a record that stood until January 3, 1973, and its lowest 889.15 on Jan 26. The biggest one-day fall was −1.4% on Dec 18 and the biggest rise +1.6% on Jul 24. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 10.8%.
Dow Jones, daily closes 1972
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1972
What happened, and how the Dow Jones moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Monday, July 24 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +1.6%.
- 2
Tuesday, November 7Richard Nixon is re-elected US president. SourceDow Jones: −0.1% next trading day (Nov 8) · +4.9% a month later
- 3
Thursday, November 9 From the dataBack above its pre-bear-market peak of 985.21 (December 3, 1968).
- 4
Friday, November 10 From the dataDow Jones sets the first of 12 record closing highs this year, at 995.26. Back above its pre-bear-market peak of 995.15 (February 9, 1966).
- 5
Tuesday, November 14 From the dataDow Jones closes above 1,000 for the first time (1,003.16).
- 6
Monday, December 11 From the dataLast record close of the year: 1,036.27.
- 7
Monday, December 18 From the dataBiggest one-day fall of the year: −1.4%.
Biggest days of 1972
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 24 | +1.6% | Dec 18 | −1.4% |
| Jan 5 | +1.4% | May 9 | −1.4% |
| Nov 1 | +1.4% | May 1 | −1.2% |
| Feb 9 | +1.3% | Aug 24 | −1.2% |
| Dec 29 | +1.2% | Mar 13 | −1.2% |
Volatility: 9.3% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 902.17 | +1.3% |
| Feb | 928.13 | +2.9% |
| Mar | 940.70 | +1.4% |
| Apr | 954.17 | +1.4% |
| May | 960.72 | +0.7% |
| Jun | 929.03 | −3.3% |
| Jul | 924.74 | −0.5% |
| Aug | 963.73 | +4.2% |
| Sep | 953.27 | −1.1% |
| Oct | 955.52 | +0.2% |
| Nov | 1,018.21 | +6.6% |
| Dec | 1,020.02 | +0.2% |
Other Markets in 1972
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| Dow Jones | +14.6% | 1,020.02 |
| S&P 500 in 1972 | +15.6% | 118.05 |
| Nasdaq Composite in 1972 | +17.2% | 133.73 |
| Gold in 1972 | +48.8% | $64.90 |
| Silver in 1972 | +48.1% | $2.03 |
| US 10-year Treasury yield in 1972 | +0.52 pp | 6.41% |
Dow Jones in 1972: FAQ
How much did the Dow Jones Industrial Average rise in 1972?
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 14.6% in 1972, from 890.20 at the end of 1971 to 1,020.02. Its highest close was 1,036.27 on Dec 11 — a record that stood until January 3, 1973, and its lowest 889.15 on Jan 26. The biggest one-day fall was −1.4% on Dec 18 and the biggest rise +1.6% on Jul 24. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 10.8%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1972?
Highest: 1,036.27 on December 11, 1972. Lowest: 889.15 on January 26, 1972. It closed higher on 121 of 251 trading days.
What happened to the Dow Jones Industrial Average on November 7, 1972?
Richard Nixon is re-elected US president. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.1% on the next trading day (November 8, 1972), and was +4.9% a month later.
Did the Dow Jones Industrial Average reach a record high in 1972?
Yes — 12 record closing highs, the last at 1,036.27 on December 11, 1972.
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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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{corgano2026dowjonesin1972, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {Dow Jones in 1972}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/dow-jones/1972}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-11-01}}