Nikkei 225 in 1989
The Nikkei 225 rose 29.0% in 1989, from 30,159 at the end of 1988 to 38,916. Its highest close was 38,916 on Dec 29 — a record that stood until February 22, 2024, and its lowest 30,184 on Jan 5. The biggest one-day fall was −1.8% on Oct 16 and the biggest rise +2.5% on Mar 28.
Nikkei 225, daily closes 1989
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1989
What happened, and how the Nikkei 225 moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Wednesday, January 4 From the dataNikkei 225 sets the first of 67 record closing highs this year, at 30,244.
- 2
Tuesday, March 28 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +2.5%.
- 3
Wednesday, May 31Bank of Japan raises its discount rate from 2.50% to 3.25%, its first increase since 1980. SourceNikkei 225: +0.6% that day · −2.4% a month later
- 4
Monday, October 16 From the dataBiggest one-day fall of the year: −1.8%.
- 5
Thursday, November 9East Germany opens the Berlin Wall. SourceNikkei 225: +0.2% that day · +6.0% a month later
- 6
Friday, December 29Nikkei 225 closes at a record 38,915.87. SourceNikkei 225: +0.1% that day · −4.3% a month later
Biggest days of 1989
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 28 | +2.5% | Oct 16 | −1.8% |
| Jan 9 | +1.5% | Jun 15 | −1.5% |
| Oct 17 | +1.5% | Oct 12 | −1.3% |
| Sep 26 | +1.4% | Mar 20 | −1.1% |
| Apr 25 | +1.3% | Apr 6 | −1.1% |
Volatility: 8.8% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31,581 | +4.7% |
| Feb | 31,986 | +1.3% |
| Mar | 32,839 | +2.7% |
| Apr | 33,713 | +2.7% |
| May | 34,267 | +1.6% |
| Jun | 32,949 | −3.8% |
| Jul | 34,954 | +6.1% |
| Aug | 34,431 | −1.5% |
| Sep | 35,637 | +3.5% |
| Oct | 35,549 | −0.2% |
| Nov | 37,269 | +4.8% |
| Dec | 38,916 | +4.4% |
Other Markets in 1989
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| Nikkei 225 | +29.0% | 38,916 |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1989 | +27.0% | 2,753.20 |
| S&P 500 in 1989 | +27.3% | 353.40 |
| Nasdaq Composite in 1989 | +19.2% | 454.80 |
| Russell 2000 in 1989 | +14.2% | 168.31 |
| Gold in 1989 | −2.8% | $398.60 |
| Silver in 1989 | −13.8% | $5.22 |
| WTI crude oil in 1989 | +27.6% | $21.84 |
| Brent crude oil in 1989 | +29.7% | $21.05 |
| US 10-year Treasury yield in 1989 | −1.21 pp | 7.93% |
Nikkei 225 in 1989: FAQ
How much did the Nikkei 225 rise in 1989?
The Nikkei 225 rose 29.0% in 1989, from 30,159 at the end of 1988 to 38,916. Its highest close was 38,916 on Dec 29 — a record that stood until February 22, 2024, and its lowest 30,184 on Jan 5. The biggest one-day fall was −1.8% on Oct 16 and the biggest rise +2.5% on Mar 28.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the Nikkei 225 in 1989?
Highest: 38,916 on December 29, 1989. Lowest: 30,184 on January 5, 1989. It closed higher on 141 of 248 trading days.
What happened to the Nikkei 225 on May 31, 1989?
Bank of Japan raises its discount rate from 2.50% to 3.25%, its first increase since 1980. The Nikkei 225 rose 0.6% that day, and was −2.4% a month later.
Did the Nikkei 225 reach a record high in 1989?
Yes — 67 record closing highs, the last at 38,916 on December 29, 1989.
Data: Daily closes since Jan 1984 (Tokyo). 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{corgano2026nikkei225in1989, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {Nikkei 225 in 1989}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/nikkei-225/1989}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-10-31}}