S&P 500 in 1980
The S&P 500 rose 25.8% in 1980, from 107.94 at the end of 1979 to 135.76. Its highest close was 140.52 on Nov 28 — a record that stood until November 3, 1982, and its lowest 98.22 on Mar 27. The biggest one-day fall was −3.0% on Mar 17 and the biggest rise +3.6% on Apr 22. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 11.8%.
S&P 500, daily closes 1980
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1980
What happened, and how the S&P 500 moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Monday, March 17 From the dataBiggest one-day fall of the year: −3.0%.
- 2
Thursday, March 27Silver Thursday: silver falls to $10.80 as the Hunt brothers fail to meet margin calls. SourceS&P 500: −0.5% that day · +6.6% a month later
- 3
Tuesday, April 22 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +3.6%.
- 4
Thursday, July 17 From the dataS&P 500 sets the first of 24 record closing highs this year, at 121.44. Back above its pre-bear-market peak of 120.24 (January 11, 1973).
- 5
Monday, September 22Iraq invades Iran, starting the Iran-Iraq War. SourceS&P 500: +0.9% that day · +2.6% a month later
- 6
Friday, November 28 From the dataLast record close of the year: 140.52.
Biggest days of 1980
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 22 | +3.6% | Mar 17 | −3.0% |
| Nov 12 | +2.5% | Mar 24 | −3.0% |
| Mar 28 | +2.5% | Dec 8 | −2.6% |
| Jan 8 | +2.0% | Dec 1 | −2.4% |
| Sep 3 | +1.9% | Mar 6 | −2.2% |
Volatility: 16.5% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 114.16 | +5.8% |
| Feb | 113.66 | −0.4% |
| Mar | 102.09 | −10.2% |
| Apr | 106.29 | +4.1% |
| May | 111.24 | +4.7% |
| Jun | 114.24 | +2.7% |
| Jul | 121.67 | +6.5% |
| Aug | 122.38 | +0.6% |
| Sep | 125.46 | +2.5% |
| Oct | 127.47 | +1.6% |
| Nov | 140.52 | +10.2% |
| Dec | 135.76 | −3.4% |
Other Markets in 1980
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | +25.8% | 135.76 |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1980 | +14.9% | 963.99 |
| Nasdaq Composite in 1980 | +33.9% | 202.34 |
| Gold in 1980 | +15.2% | $589.75 |
| Silver in 1980 | −51.9% | $15.50 |
| US 10-year Treasury yield in 1980 | +2.10 pp | 12.43% |
S&P 500 in 1980: FAQ
How much did the S&P 500 rise in 1980?
The S&P 500 rose 25.8% in 1980, from 107.94 at the end of 1979 to 135.76. Its highest close was 140.52 on Nov 28 — a record that stood until November 3, 1982, and its lowest 98.22 on Mar 27. The biggest one-day fall was −3.0% on Mar 17 and the biggest rise +3.6% on Apr 22. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 11.8%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the S&P 500 in 1980?
Highest: 140.52 on November 28, 1980. Lowest: 98.22 on March 27, 1980. It closed higher on 141 of 253 trading days.
What happened to the S&P 500 on September 22, 1980?
Iraq invades Iran, starting the Iran-Iraq War. The S&P 500 rose 0.9% that day, and was +2.6% a month later.
Did the S&P 500 reach a record high in 1980?
Yes — 24 record closing highs, the last at 140.52 on November 28, 1980.
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.
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{corgano2026sp500in1980, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {S&P 500 in 1980}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/sp-500/1980}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-10-31}}