Nasdaq in 1981
The Nasdaq Composite fell 3.2% in 1981, from 202.34 at the end of 1980 to 195.84. Its highest close was 223.47 on May 29 — a record that stood until November 4, 1982, and its lowest 175.03 on Sep 28. The biggest one-day fall was −3.3% on Jan 7 and the biggest rise +2.0% on Sep 29. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 11.1%.
Nasdaq, daily closes 1981
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1981
What happened, and how the Nasdaq moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Wednesday, January 7 From the dataBiggest one-day fall of the year: −3.3%.
- 2
Tuesday, January 20Ronald Reagan is inaugurated; Iran releases the 52 US hostages. SourceNasdaq: −1.4% that day · −3.4% a month later
- 3
Wednesday, March 25 From the dataNasdaq sets the first of 18 record closing highs this year, at 209.31.
- 4
Monday, March 30President Reagan is shot in Washington; the NYSE closes early. SourceNasdaq: +0.1% that day · +4.2% a month later
- 5
Friday, May 29 From the dataLast record close of the year: 223.47.
- 6
Thursday, August 13Reagan signs the Economic Recovery Tax Act, cutting the top income tax rate from 70% to 50%. SourceNasdaq: +0.2% that day · −10.4% a month later
- 7
Friday, September 25 From the dataEnters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 223.47 (May 29, 1981).
- 8
Tuesday, September 29 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +2.0%.
Biggest days of 1981
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 29 | +2.0% | Jan 7 | −3.3% |
| Oct 2 | +1.8% | Sep 25 | −2.9% |
| Oct 7 | +1.6% | Aug 24 | −2.9% |
| Sep 10 | +1.5% | Sep 8 | −2.6% |
| Mar 12 | +1.3% | Feb 2 | −2.4% |
Volatility: 12.1% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 197.81 | −2.2% |
| Feb | 198.01 | +0.1% |
| Mar | 210.18 | +6.1% |
| Apr | 216.74 | +3.1% |
| May | 223.47 | +3.1% |
| Jun | 215.75 | −3.5% |
| Jul | 211.63 | −1.9% |
| Aug | 195.75 | −7.5% |
| Sep | 180.03 | −8.0% |
| Oct | 195.24 | +8.4% |
| Nov | 201.37 | +3.1% |
| Dec | 195.84 | −2.7% |
Other Markets in 1981
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| Nasdaq | −3.2% | 195.84 |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1981 | −9.2% | 875.00 |
| S&P 500 in 1981 | −9.7% | 122.55 |
| Gold in 1981 | −32.6% | $397.50 |
| Silver in 1981 | −47.4% | $8.15 |
| US 10-year Treasury yield in 1981 | +1.55 pp | 13.98% |
Nasdaq in 1981: FAQ
How much did the Nasdaq Composite fall in 1981?
The Nasdaq Composite fell 3.2% in 1981, from 202.34 at the end of 1980 to 195.84. Its highest close was 223.47 on May 29 — a record that stood until November 4, 1982, and its lowest 175.03 on Sep 28. The biggest one-day fall was −3.3% on Jan 7 and the biggest rise +2.0% on Sep 29. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 11.1%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the Nasdaq Composite in 1981?
Highest: 223.47 on May 29, 1981. Lowest: 175.03 on September 28, 1981. It closed higher on 146 of 253 trading days.
What happened to the Nasdaq Composite on January 20, 1981?
Ronald Reagan is inaugurated; Iran releases the 52 US hostages. The Nasdaq Composite fell 1.4% that day, and was −3.4% a month later.
Did the Nasdaq Composite reach a record high in 1981?
Yes — 18 record closing highs, the last at 223.47 on May 29, 1981.
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{corgano2026nasdaqin1981, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {Nasdaq in 1981}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/nasdaq/1981}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-11-01}}