S&P 500 in 1963
The S&P 500 rose 18.9% in 1963, from 63.10 at the end of 1962 to 75.02. Its highest close was 75.02 on Dec 31 — a record that stood until January 2, 1964, and its lowest 62.69 on Jan 2. The biggest one-day fall was −2.8% on Nov 22 and the biggest rise +4.0% on Nov 26. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 17.0%.
S&P 500, daily closes 1963
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1963
What happened, and how the S&P 500 moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Tuesday, September 3 From the dataS&P 500 sets the first of 11 record closing highs this year, at 72.66. Back above its pre-bear-market peak of 72.64 (December 12, 1961).
- 2
Tuesday, November 19Allied Crude Vegetable Oil Refining Co. files for bankruptcy in the 'salad oil swindle'. SourceS&P 500: +0.1% that day · +3.6% a month later
- 3
Friday, November 22President Kennedy is assassinated; the NYSE halts trading at 2:07 pm after a sharp drop. SourceS&P 500: −2.8% that day · +3.3% a month later
- 4
Tuesday, November 26 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +4.0%.
- 5
Tuesday, December 31 From the dataLast record close of the year: 75.02.
Biggest days of 1963
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 26 | +4.0% | Nov 22 | −2.8% |
| Jan 3 | +1.6% | Nov 21 | −1.3% |
| Nov 29 | +1.4% | Feb 28 | −1.1% |
| Oct 25 | +1.0% | Oct 9 | −1.0% |
| Mar 4 | +1.0% | Jun 26 | −0.9% |
Volatility: 8.6% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66.20 | +4.9% |
| Feb | 64.29 | −2.9% |
| Mar | 66.57 | +3.5% |
| Apr | 69.80 | +4.9% |
| May | 70.80 | +1.4% |
| Jun | 69.37 | −2.0% |
| Jul | 69.13 | −0.3% |
| Aug | 72.50 | +4.9% |
| Sep | 71.70 | −1.1% |
| Oct | 74.01 | +3.2% |
| Nov | 73.23 | −1.1% |
| Dec | 75.02 | +2.4% |
Other Markets in 1963
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | +18.9% | 75.02 |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1963 | +17.0% | 762.95 |
| US 10-year Treasury yield in 1963 | +0.29 pp | 4.14% |
S&P 500 in 1963: FAQ
How much did the S&P 500 rise in 1963?
The S&P 500 rose 18.9% in 1963, from 63.10 at the end of 1962 to 75.02. Its highest close was 75.02 on Dec 31 — a record that stood until January 2, 1964, and its lowest 62.69 on Jan 2. The biggest one-day fall was −2.8% on Nov 22 and the biggest rise +4.0% on Nov 26. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 17.0%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the S&P 500 in 1963?
Highest: 75.02 on December 31, 1963. Lowest: 62.69 on January 2, 1963. It closed higher on 144 of 251 trading days.
What happened to the S&P 500 on November 22, 1963?
President Kennedy is assassinated; the NYSE halts trading at 2:07 pm after a sharp drop. The S&P 500 fell 2.8% that day, and was +3.3% a month later.
Did the S&P 500 reach a record high in 1963?
Yes — 11 record closing highs, the last at 75.02 on December 31, 1963.
Data: Daily closes since 1950 (price index, excluding dividends). 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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@misc{corgano2026sp500in1963, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {S&P 500 in 1963}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/sp-500/1963}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-10-31}}