S&P 500 in 1964
The S&P 500 rose 13.0% in 1964, from 75.02 at the end of 1963 to 84.75. Its highest close was 86.28 on Nov 20 — a record that stood until January 18, 1965, and its lowest 75.43 on Jan 2. The biggest one-day fall was −1.3% on Aug 4 and the biggest rise +0.9% on May 1. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 11.9%.
S&P 500, daily closes 1964
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1964
What happened, and how the S&P 500 moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Thursday, January 2 From the dataS&P 500 sets the first of 62 record closing highs this year, at 75.43.
- 2
Wednesday, February 26Revenue Act of 1964 cuts the top income tax rate from 91% to 70% and corporate rate to 48%. SourceS&P 500: +0.2% that day · +1.7% a month later
- 3
Monday, April 6 From the dataS&P 500 closes above 80 for the first time (80.02).
- 4
Friday, May 1 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +0.9%.
- 5
Tuesday, August 4 From the dataBiggest one-day fall of the year: −1.3%.
- 6
Monday, August 10President Johnson signs the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, expanding US involvement in Vietnam. SourceS&P 500: −0.1% that day · +1.2% a month later
- 7
Friday, November 20 From the dataLast record close of the year: 86.28.
Biggest days of 1964
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1 | +0.9% | Aug 4 | −1.3% |
| Jul 1 | +0.7% | Jun 4 | −1.0% |
| Apr 28 | +0.7% | Dec 1 | −1.0% |
| Oct 16 | +0.7% | Aug 6 | −0.9% |
| Sep 17 | +0.7% | Nov 30 | −0.9% |
Volatility: 5.3% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 77.04 | +2.7% |
| Feb | 77.80 | +1.0% |
| Mar | 78.98 | +1.5% |
| Apr | 79.46 | +0.6% |
| May | 80.37 | +1.1% |
| Jun | 81.69 | +1.6% |
| Jul | 83.18 | +1.8% |
| Aug | 81.83 | −1.6% |
| Sep | 84.18 | +2.9% |
| Oct | 84.86 | +0.8% |
| Nov | 84.42 | −0.5% |
| Dec | 84.75 | +0.4% |
Other Markets in 1964
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | +13.0% | 84.75 |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1964 | +14.6% | 874.13 |
| US 10-year Treasury yield in 1964 | +0.07 pp | 4.21% |
S&P 500 in 1964: FAQ
How much did the S&P 500 rise in 1964?
The S&P 500 rose 13.0% in 1964, from 75.02 at the end of 1963 to 84.75. Its highest close was 86.28 on Nov 20 — a record that stood until January 18, 1965, and its lowest 75.43 on Jan 2. The biggest one-day fall was −1.3% on Aug 4 and the biggest rise +0.9% on May 1. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 11.9%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the S&P 500 in 1964?
Highest: 86.28 on November 20, 1964. Lowest: 75.43 on January 2, 1964. It closed higher on 145 of 253 trading days.
What happened to the S&P 500 on February 26, 1964?
Revenue Act of 1964 cuts the top income tax rate from 91% to 70% and corporate rate to 48%. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% that day, and was +1.7% a month later.
Did the S&P 500 reach a record high in 1964?
Yes — 62 record closing highs, the last at 86.28 on November 20, 1964.
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{corgano2026sp500in1964, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {S&P 500 in 1964}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/sp-500/1964}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-10-31}}