Nasdaq in 1996
The Nasdaq Composite rose 22.7% in 1996, from 1,052.13 at the end of 1995 to 1,291.03. Its highest close was 1,316.27 on Dec 9 — a record that stood until January 6, 1997, and its lowest 988.57 on Jan 15. The biggest one-day fall was −3.9% on Jul 15 and the biggest rise +3.1% on Jul 17. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 18.8%.
Nasdaq, daily closes 1996
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1996
What happened, and how the Nasdaq moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Friday, February 2 From the dataNasdaq sets the first of 42 record closing highs this year, at 1,072.11.
- 2
Monday, July 15 From the dataBiggest one-day fall of the year: −3.9%.
- 3
Wednesday, July 17 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +3.1%.
- 4
Thursday, December 5Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan asks in a speech whether 'irrational exuberance' has inflated asset values. SourceNasdaq: +0.2% that day · +1.5% a month later
- 5
Monday, December 9 From the dataLast record close of the year: 1,316.27.
Biggest days of 1996
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17 | +3.1% | Jul 15 | −3.9% |
| Aug 2 | +2.4% | Jan 9 | −3.3% |
| Dec 9 | +2.2% | Jul 11 | −3.1% |
| Jul 18 | +2.1% | Jul 23 | −3.0% |
| Jan 11 | +2.1% | Mar 8 | −2.7% |
Volatility: 15.4% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1,059.79 | +0.7% |
| Feb | 1,100.05 | +3.8% |
| Mar | 1,101.40 | +0.1% |
| Apr | 1,190.52 | +8.1% |
| May | 1,243.43 | +4.4% |
| Jun | 1,185.02 | −4.7% |
| Jul | 1,080.59 | −8.8% |
| Aug | 1,141.50 | +5.6% |
| Sep | 1,226.92 | +7.5% |
| Oct | 1,221.51 | −0.4% |
| Nov | 1,292.61 | +5.8% |
| Dec | 1,291.03 | −0.1% |
Other Markets in 1996
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| Nasdaq | +22.7% | 1,291.03 |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1996 | +26.0% | 6,448.26 |
| S&P 500 in 1996 | +20.3% | 740.74 |
| 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% |
Nasdaq in 1996: FAQ
How much did the Nasdaq Composite rise in 1996?
The Nasdaq Composite rose 22.7% in 1996, from 1,052.13 at the end of 1995 to 1,291.03. Its highest close was 1,316.27 on Dec 9 — a record that stood until January 6, 1997, and its lowest 988.57 on Jan 15. The biggest one-day fall was −3.9% on Jul 15 and the biggest rise +3.1% on Jul 17. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 18.8%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the Nasdaq Composite in 1996?
Highest: 1,316.27 on December 9, 1996. Lowest: 988.57 on January 15, 1996. It closed higher on 151 of 254 trading days.
What happened to the Nasdaq Composite on December 5, 1996?
Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan asks in a speech whether 'irrational exuberance' has inflated asset values. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.2% that day, and was +1.5% a month later.
Did the Nasdaq Composite reach a record high in 1996?
Yes — 42 record closing highs, the last at 1,316.27 on December 9, 1996.
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{corgano2026nasdaqin1996, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {Nasdaq in 1996}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/nasdaq/1996}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-10-31}}