Dow Jones in 1996
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 26.0% in 1996, from 5,117.12 at the end of 1995 to 6,448.26. Its highest close was 6,560.90 on Dec 27 — a record that stood until January 6, 1997, and its lowest 5,032.94 on Jan 10. The biggest one-day fall was −3.0% on Mar 8 and the biggest rise +2.0% on Mar 11. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 22.0%.
Dow Jones, daily closes 1996
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1996
What happened, and how the Dow Jones moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Monday, January 22 From the dataDow Jones sets the first of 44 record closing highs this year, at 5,219.36.
- 2
Friday, March 8 From the dataBiggest one-day fall of the year: −3.0%.
- 3
Monday, March 11 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +2.0%.
- 4
Monday, October 14 From the dataDow Jones closes above 6,000 for the first time (6,010.00).
- 5
Thursday, December 5Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan asks in a speech whether 'irrational exuberance' has inflated asset values. SourceDow Jones: +0.2% that day · +2.2% a month later
- 6
Friday, December 27 From the dataLast record close of the year: 6,560.90.
Biggest days of 1996
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 11 | +2.0% | Mar 8 | −3.0% |
| Dec 19 | +2.0% | Jul 15 | −2.9% |
| Mar 18 | +1.8% | Jul 5 | −2.0% |
| Feb 22 | +1.7% | Jan 10 | −1.9% |
| Jul 18 | +1.6% | Apr 8 | −1.6% |
Volatility: 12.0% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5,395.30 | +5.4% |
| Feb | 5,485.62 | +1.7% |
| Mar | 5,587.14 | +1.9% |
| Apr | 5,569.07 | −0.3% |
| May | 5,643.17 | +1.3% |
| Jun | 5,654.62 | +0.2% |
| Jul | 5,528.91 | −2.2% |
| Aug | 5,616.20 | +1.6% |
| Sep | 5,882.16 | +4.7% |
| Oct | 6,029.38 | +2.5% |
| Nov | 6,521.70 | +8.2% |
| Dec | 6,448.26 | −1.1% |
Other Markets in 1996
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| Dow Jones | +26.0% | 6,448.26 |
| S&P 500 in 1996 | +20.3% | 740.74 |
| Nasdaq Composite in 1996 | +22.7% | 1,291.03 |
| Russell 2000 in 1996 | +14.8% | 362.61 |
| Nikkei 225 in 1996 | −2.6% | 19,361.00 |
| Gold in 1996 | −4.6% | $369.25 |
| Silver in 1996 | −7.0% | $4.77 |
| WTI crude oil in 1996 | +32.5% | $25.90 |
| Brent crude oil in 1996 | +28.2% | $23.90 |
| US 10-year Treasury yield in 1996 | +0.85 pp | 6.43% |
Dow Jones in 1996: FAQ
How much did the Dow Jones Industrial Average rise in 1996?
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 26.0% in 1996, from 5,117.12 at the end of 1995 to 6,448.26. Its highest close was 6,560.90 on Dec 27 — a record that stood until January 6, 1997, and its lowest 5,032.94 on Jan 10. The biggest one-day fall was −3.0% on Mar 8 and the biggest rise +2.0% on Mar 11. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 22.0%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1996?
Highest: 6,560.90 on December 27, 1996. Lowest: 5,032.94 on January 10, 1996. It closed higher on 146 of 254 trading days.
What happened to the Dow Jones Industrial Average on December 5, 1996?
Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan asks in a speech whether 'irrational exuberance' has inflated asset values. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2% that day, and was +2.2% a month later.
Did the Dow Jones Industrial Average reach a record high in 1996?
Yes — 44 record closing highs, the last at 6,560.90 on December 27, 1996.
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{corgano2026dowjonesin1996, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {Dow Jones in 1996}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/dow-jones/1996}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-10-31}}