Nasdaq in 1972
The Nasdaq Composite rose 17.2% in 1972, from 114.12 at the end of 1971 to 133.73. Its highest close was 135.15 on Dec 8 — a record that stood until January 3, 1973, and its lowest 113.65 on Jan 3. The biggest one-day fall was −2.2% on May 9 and the biggest rise +1.4% on Dec 29. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 13.3%.
Nasdaq, daily closes 1972
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1972
What happened, and how the Nasdaq moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Wednesday, January 5 From the dataNasdaq sets the first of 43 record closing highs this year, at 114.83.
- 2
Tuesday, May 9 From the dataBiggest one-day fall of the year: −2.2%.
- 3
Tuesday, November 7Richard Nixon is re-elected US president. SourceNasdaq: −0.4% next trading day (Nov 8) · +1.1% a month later
- 4
Friday, December 8 From the dataLast record close of the year: 135.15.
- 5
Friday, December 29 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +1.4%.
Biggest days of 1972
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 29 | +1.4% | May 9 | −2.2% |
| Sep 27 | +1.2% | Mar 21 | −1.4% |
| May 12 | +1.2% | Apr 19 | −1.1% |
| Nov 1 | +1.0% | Oct 16 | −1.0% |
| May 19 | +1.0% | Oct 5 | −1.0% |
Volatility: 7.8% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 118.87 | +4.2% |
| Feb | 125.38 | +5.5% |
| Mar | 128.14 | +2.2% |
| Apr | 131.33 | +2.5% |
| May | 132.53 | +0.9% |
| Jun | 130.08 | −1.8% |
| Jul | 127.75 | −1.8% |
| Aug | 129.95 | +1.7% |
| Sep | 129.61 | −0.3% |
| Oct | 130.24 | +0.5% |
| Nov | 132.96 | +2.1% |
| Dec | 133.73 | +0.6% |
Other Markets in 1972
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| Nasdaq | +17.2% | 133.73 |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1972 | +14.6% | 1,020.02 |
| S&P 500 in 1972 | +15.6% | 118.05 |
| 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% |
Nasdaq in 1972: FAQ
How much did the Nasdaq Composite rise in 1972?
The Nasdaq Composite rose 17.2% in 1972, from 114.12 at the end of 1971 to 133.73. Its highest close was 135.15 on Dec 8 — a record that stood until January 3, 1973, and its lowest 113.65 on Jan 3. The biggest one-day fall was −2.2% on May 9 and the biggest rise +1.4% on Dec 29. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 13.3%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the Nasdaq Composite in 1972?
Highest: 135.15 on December 8, 1972. Lowest: 113.65 on January 3, 1972. It closed higher on 146 of 251 trading days.
What happened to the Nasdaq Composite on November 7, 1972?
Richard Nixon is re-elected US president. The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.4% on the next trading day (November 8, 1972), and was +1.1% a month later.
Did the Nasdaq Composite reach a record high in 1972?
Yes — 43 record closing highs, the last at 135.15 on December 8, 1972.
Data: Daily closes since the index began at 100 on 5 Feb 1971. 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{corgano2026nasdaqin1972, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {Nasdaq in 1972}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/nasdaq/1972}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-11-01}}