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Russell 2000 in 2018

The Russell 2000 fell 12.2% in 2018, from 1,535.51 at the end of 2017 to 1,348.56. Its highest close was 1,740.75 on Aug 31 — a record that stood until November 13, 2020, and its lowest 1,266.92 on Dec 24. The biggest one-day fall was −4.4% on Dec 4 and the biggest rise +5.0% on Dec 26. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 13.8%.

Change in 2018
−12.2%
1,535.51 → 1,348.56
High
1,740.75
Aug 31
Low
1,266.92
Dec 24
After inflation
−13.8%
US CPI
Up days
132 of 251
longest run 6 up, 8 down
Record highs
30
closing records

Russell 2000, daily closes 2018

Numbers mark the events below
1,3111,5041,696previous recordJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec1Jan 2: Russell 2000 sets the first of 30 record closing highs this year, at 1,550.01.2Feb 5: Dow falls 1,175.21 points (4.6%) to 24,345.75 as stock volatility spikes.3Jul 6: US tariffs on $34 billion of Chinese goods take effect; China retaliates with matching tariffs.4Aug 31: Last record close of the year: 1,740.75.5Dec 4: Biggest one-day fall of the year: −4.4%.6Dec 17: Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 1,740.75 (August 31, 2018).7Dec 24: Bear market low: 1,266.92, 27.2% below the peak.8Dec 26: Dow gains 1,086.25 points (4.98%) to 22,878.45.

Key Events in 2018

What happened, and how the Russell 2000 moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.

  1. 1
    Tuesday, January 2 From the data
    Russell 2000 sets the first of 30 record closing highs this year, at 1,550.01.
  2. 2
    Monday, February 5
    Dow falls 1,175.21 points (4.6%) to 24,345.75 as stock volatility spikes. Source
    Russell 2000: −3.6% that day · +1.0% a month later
  3. 3
    Friday, July 6
    US tariffs on $34 billion of Chinese goods take effect; China retaliates with matching tariffs. Source
    Russell 2000: +0.9% that day · −0.4% a month later
  4. 4
    Friday, August 31 From the data
    Last record close of the year: 1,740.75.
  5. 5
    Tuesday, December 4 From the data
    Biggest one-day fall of the year: −4.4%.
  6. 6
    Monday, December 17 From the data
    Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of 1,740.75 (August 31, 2018).
  7. 7
    Monday, December 24 From the data
    Bear market low: 1,266.92, 27.2% below the peak.
  8. 8
    Wednesday, December 26
    Dow gains 1,086.25 points (4.98%) to 22,878.45. Source
    Russell 2000: +5.0% that day · +17.0% a month later

Biggest days of 2018

Best daysWorst days
Dec 26+5.0%Dec 4−4.4%
Oct 16+2.8%Oct 24−3.8%
Nov 28+2.5%Feb 5−3.6%
Mar 26+2.2%Feb 8−2.9%
Nov 1+2.2%Oct 10−2.9%

Volatility: 18.0% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

MonthCloseChangeHighLow
Jan1,574.98+2.6%1,610.711,550.01
Feb1,512.45−4.0%1,579.871,463.79
Mar1,529.43+1.1%1,601.061,507.39
Apr1,541.88+0.8%1,583.561,492.53
May1,633.61+5.9%1,647.991,546.56
Jun1,643.07+0.6%1,706.991,640.45
Jul1,670.80+1.7%1,704.601,653.13
Aug1,740.75+4.2%1,740.751,669.26
Sep1,696.57−2.5%1,733.381,690.53
Oct1,511.41−10.9%1,672.991,468.70
Nov1,533.27+1.4%1,582.161,469.01
Dec1,348.56−12.0%1,548.961,266.92

Other Markets in 2018

Change over the calendar year.

MarketChangeYear-end
Russell 2000−12.2%1,348.56
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2018−5.6%23,327.46
S&P 500 in 2018−6.2%2,506.85
Nasdaq Composite in 2018−3.9%6,635.28
Nikkei 225 in 2018−12.1%20,014.77
Gold in 2018−2.1%$1,278.30
Silver in 2018−8.8%$15.43
WTI crude oil in 2018−24.8%$45.41
Brent crude oil in 2018−19.2%$53.80
US 10-year Treasury yield in 2018+0.28 pp2.69%
2010201120122013201420152016201720182019

Russell 2000 in 2018: FAQ

How much did the Russell 2000 fall in 2018?

The Russell 2000 fell 12.2% in 2018, from 1,535.51 at the end of 2017 to 1,348.56. Its highest close was 1,740.75 on Aug 31 — a record that stood until November 13, 2020, and its lowest 1,266.92 on Dec 24. The biggest one-day fall was −4.4% on Dec 4 and the biggest rise +5.0% on Dec 26. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 13.8%.

What were the highest and lowest closes of the Russell 2000 in 2018?

Highest: 1,740.75 on August 31, 2018. Lowest: 1,266.92 on December 24, 2018. It closed higher on 132 of 251 trading days.

What happened to the Russell 2000 on December 26, 2018?

Dow gains 1,086.25 points (4.98%) to 22,878.45. The Russell 2000 rose 5.0% that day, and was +17.0% a month later.

Did the Russell 2000 reach a record high in 2018?

Yes — 30 record closing highs, the last at 1,740.75 on August 31, 2018.

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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APA 7
Corgano. (2026, October 31). Russell 2000 in 2018. Corgano Gold Price. Retrieved October 31, 2026, from https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/russell-2000/2018
MLA 9
“Russell 2000 in 2018.” Corgano Gold Price, goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/russell-2000/2018. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.
Chicago
Corgano. “Russell 2000 in 2018.” Corgano Gold Price. Accessed October 31, 2026. https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/russell-2000/2018.
BibTeX
@misc{corgano2026russell2000in2018, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {Russell 2000 in 2018}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/russell-2000/2018}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-10-31}}
Link
Russell 2000 in 2018 — Corgano Gold Price: https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/russell-2000/2018