Oil Price (WTI) in 2003
The oil price (WTI) rose 4.2% in 2003, from $31.21 at the end of 2002 to $32.51. Its highest close was $37.96 on Feb 26, and its lowest $25.25 on Apr 28. The biggest one-day fall was −14.1% on Mar 26 and the biggest rise +13.2% on Mar 25. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 2.2%.
Oil Price (WTI), daily closes 2003
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 2003
What happened, and how the WTI oil moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Monday, February 24 From the dataBack above its pre-bear-market peak of $37.22 (September 20, 2000).
- 2
Wednesday, March 19 From the dataEnters a bear market: 20% below its peak of $37.96 (February 26, 2003).
- 3
Thursday, March 20US-led coalition invades Iraq. SourceWTI oil: −4.6% that day · +0.3% a month later
- 4
Friday, March 21 From the dataBear market low: $27.18, 28.4% below the peak.
- 5
Tuesday, March 25 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +13.2%.
- 6
Wednesday, March 26 From the dataBiggest one-day fall of the year: −14.1%.
- 7
Friday, April 25 From the dataEnters a bear market: 20% below its peak of $33.42 (March 25, 2003).
- 8
Monday, April 28 From the dataBear market low: $25.25, 24.4% below the peak.
- 9
Thursday, December 18 From the dataBack above its pre-bear-market peak of $33.42 (March 25, 2003).
Biggest days of 2003
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | +13.2% | Mar 26 | −14.1% |
| Mar 24 | +8.6% | Mar 18 | −9.7% |
| Mar 27 | +5.6% | Jun 26 | −8.5% |
| Aug 1 | +5.5% | Jan 27 | −7.3% |
| Jun 25 | +5.3% | Nov 24 | −7.0% |
Volatility: 44.7% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | $33.51 | +7.4% |
| Feb | $36.76 | +9.7% |
| Mar | $31.14 | −15.3% |
| Apr | $26.09 | −16.2% |
| May | $29.56 | +13.3% |
| Jun | $30.15 | +2.0% |
| Jul | $30.56 | +1.4% |
| Aug | $31.76 | +3.9% |
| Sep | $29.19 | −8.1% |
| Oct | $29.24 | +0.2% |
| Nov | $30.33 | +3.7% |
| Dec | $32.51 | +7.2% |
Other Markets in 2003
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| Oil Price (WTI) | +4.2% | $32.51 |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2003 | +25.3% | 10,453.92 |
| S&P 500 in 2003 | +26.4% | 1,111.92 |
| Nasdaq Composite in 2003 | +50.0% | 2,003.37 |
| Russell 2000 in 2003 | +45.4% | 556.91 |
| Nikkei 225 in 2003 | +24.5% | 10,676.64 |
| Gold in 2003 | +19.9% | $416.25 |
| Silver in 2003 | +27.8% | $5.97 |
| Brent crude oil in 2003 | +0.6% | $30.30 |
| US 10-year Treasury yield in 2003 | +0.44 pp | 4.27% |
Oil Price (WTI) in 2003: FAQ
How much did the oil price (WTI) rise in 2003?
The oil price (WTI) rose 4.2% in 2003, from $31.21 at the end of 2002 to $32.51. Its highest close was $37.96 on Feb 26, and its lowest $25.25 on Apr 28. The biggest one-day fall was −14.1% on Mar 26 and the biggest rise +13.2% on Mar 25. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 2.2%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the oil price (WTI) in 2003?
Highest: $37.96 on February 26, 2003. Lowest: $25.25 on April 28, 2003. It closed higher on 132 of 250 trading days.
What happened to the oil price (WTI) on March 20, 2003?
US-led coalition invades Iraq. The oil price (WTI) fell 4.6% that day, and was +0.3% a month later.
Data: WTI Cushing spot price (EIA via FRED) from 1986, NYMEX front-month futures closes after that. 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{corgano2026oilpricewtiin, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {Oil Price (WTI) in 2003}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/oil-wti/2003}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-10-31}}