Russell 2000 in 1996
The Russell 2000 rose 14.8% in 1996, from 315.97 at the end of 1995 to 362.61. Its highest close was 364.61 on May 22 — a record that stood until January 9, 1997, and its lowest 301.75 on Jan 16. The biggest one-day fall was −2.8% on Jul 15 and the biggest rise +2.6% on Jul 17. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 11.1%.
Russell 2000, daily closes 1996
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1996
What happened, and how the Russell 2000 moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Tuesday, January 2 From the dataRussell 2000 sets the first of 41 record closing highs this year, at 316.81.
- 2
Wednesday, May 22 From the dataLast record close of the year: 364.61.
- 3
Monday, July 15 From the dataBiggest one-day fall of the year: −2.8%.
- 4
Wednesday, July 17 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +2.6%.
- 5
Thursday, December 5Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan asks in a speech whether 'irrational exuberance' has inflated asset values. SourceRussell 2000: +0.3% that day · +1.2% a month later
Biggest days of 1996
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17 | +2.6% | Jul 15 | −2.8% |
| Aug 2 | +1.6% | Mar 8 | −2.5% |
| Jul 18 | +1.5% | Jul 11 | −2.4% |
| Dec 9 | +1.4% | Jul 23 | −1.9% |
| Jun 28 | +1.4% | Jan 9 | −1.6% |
Volatility: 10.7% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 315.38 | −0.2% |
| Feb | 324.93 | +3.0% |
| Mar | 330.77 | +1.8% |
| Apr | 348.28 | +5.3% |
| May | 361.85 | +3.9% |
| Jun | 346.61 | −4.2% |
| Jul | 316.00 | −8.8% |
| Aug | 333.88 | +5.7% |
| Sep | 346.39 | +3.7% |
| Oct | 340.57 | −1.7% |
| Nov | 354.11 | +4.0% |
| Dec | 362.61 | +2.4% |
Other Markets in 1996
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| Russell 2000 | +14.8% | 362.61 |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1996 | +26.0% | 6,448.26 |
| S&P 500 in 1996 | +20.3% | 740.74 |
| Nasdaq Composite in 1996 | +22.7% | 1,291.03 |
| 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% |
Russell 2000 in 1996: FAQ
How much did the Russell 2000 rise in 1996?
The Russell 2000 rose 14.8% in 1996, from 315.97 at the end of 1995 to 362.61. Its highest close was 364.61 on May 22 — a record that stood until January 9, 1997, and its lowest 301.75 on Jan 16. The biggest one-day fall was −2.8% on Jul 15 and the biggest rise +2.6% on Jul 17. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 11.1%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the Russell 2000 in 1996?
Highest: 364.61 on May 22, 1996. Lowest: 301.75 on January 16, 1996. It closed higher on 154 of 254 trading days.
What happened to the Russell 2000 on December 5, 1996?
Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan asks in a speech whether 'irrational exuberance' has inflated asset values. The Russell 2000 rose 0.3% that day, and was +1.2% a month later.
Did the Russell 2000 reach a record high in 1996?
Yes — 41 record closing highs, the last at 364.61 on May 22, 1996.
Data: Daily closes since Sep 1987. 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.
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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{corgano2026russell2000in1996, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {Russell 2000 in 1996}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/russell-2000/1996}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-11-01}}